“They were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think If they should.” Those were the immortal words of Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) in the classic blockbuster Jurassic Park. Well, we would usually agree with the good doctor, except in this case. Because Wizards of the Coast making Jurassic Park-themed Magic: The Gathering cards? We’re of the opinion if you can make them, then you totally should. Because the newly revealed Jurassic Park cards, part of their Universes Beyond crossovers, are pretty darn cool. They’ll be a part of The Lost Caverns Of Ixalan, revealed at the 2023 Las Vegas MagicCon. You can check out images of the new cards below:

Click To View Gallery

Among the cards included within the Lost Caverns Of Ixalan packs are ones featuring characters and creatures from the beloved ’90s film and its many sequels. These arrive just in time for the Steven Spielberg classic’s 30th anniversary. At a MagicCon panel, Wizards revealed three new cards from the Jurassic Park line, together with a new “stamped” variant with the Jurassic World logo embossed over the card. The three revealed cards were Dr. Ian Malcom/Chaotician, listed as a “Legendary Creature.” (We agree, he’s a pretty legendary creature). Then there’s the Indominus Rex/Alpha from Jurassic World, and a “Welcome To…/Jurassic Park” double-sided Saga card.

These Jurassic Park/Jurassic World cards are the beginning of an overall partnership between Wizards of the Coast and NBC Universal. Does this mean we’ve got Fast & Furious and Minions cards coming our way too? Who knows, who ever saw these Jurassic Park cards coming? Stranger things have happened. You can learn more about The Lost Caverns of Ixalan and the Jurassic Park Magic cards in the video below.

The Lost Caverns Of Ixalan launched on November 17, with the Jurassic World cards contained in booster packs, collectors booster packs, and bundles.

Secret Lair x Jurassic World: Dr. Ian Malcolm Collection

As if that wasn’t enough Jurassic World fun, Dr. Ian Malcolm is also getting his very own collection as part of Secret Lair’s Secretversary 2023. Yes, this collection is all Dr. Malcolm all the time. The description for the set shares, “Dr. Ian Malcolm is here to sweep you off your feet and slip into your collection. Whether the magnetic mathematician is scolding a megalomaniacal millionaire, recovering from a dinosaur attack, or slowly dripping water on your hand while explaining the intricacies of entropy, he’s got charisma to spare. And with art like this, chaos has never been so beautiful.”

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This Secret Drop Jurassic World collection features four Magic cards and an egg token all reimagined to feature Dr. Ian Malcom. They are as follows:

• 1x Laboratory Maniac as “Chaotic Chaotician”
• 1x Tasha’s Hideous Laughter as “Malcolm’s Mercurial Mirth”
• 1x Tasigur, the Golden Fang as “Ian, Convalescent Charmer”
• 1x Atla Palani, Nest Tender as “Dr. Ian Malcolm”
• 1x Egg token

We can’t wait to see what other kinds of Jurassic World mayhem Magic: The Gathering will dream up next.

Originally published on September 22, 2023.

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Jurassic Park came out 30 years ago, but it remains a perfect, timeless blockbuster. That’s why we hope no one ever does something silly like try and remake it. At least not with humans. We’re totally on board with LEGO’s upcoming take on the legendary dino story. The trailer for Peacock‘s newly announced LEGO Jurassic Park: The Unofficial Retelling is everything we’d want from a comedic version of this famous tale. Especially because it combines prehistoric monsters with the terror of stepping on a little plastic bricks.

Now that’s how you make a horror-action-thriller into a fun romp. You still let the T.Rex eat the lawyer; you just let him build his bathroom tomb first. Also, the framing of this “unofficial retelling” by one of Jurassic Park‘s best characters is a genius way to revisit what happened on Isla Nubar. Here’s LEGO Jurassic Park: The Unofficial Retelling official synopsis from Peacock:

From the comfort of his living room and after finding his personal journal, the ever charming and now slightly older Chaos Theory Mathematician Dr. Ian Malcolm retells the tale of what happened that dreadful night at Jurassic Park. As only he can do, Dr. Malcolm finds a way to add his own unique humor and style to bring this harrowing story back to life. A theme park destination filled with living dinosaurs for family and kids to enjoy – what could possibly go wrong? Absolutely everything…just as he had predicted!

Well, uh, there….there he is….old LEGO Dr. Ian Malcolm. We love him already.

LEGO Jurassic Park: The Unofficial Retelling Release Date and Other Information

LEGO Jurassic Park: The Unofficial Retelling releases on Peacock on October 10. And happily, that’s just around the corner.

The only downside to the special’s announcement is its runtime. The short film is just 22 minutes long. We’d gladly take a full recreation of Steven Spielberg’s movie in LEGO form… At least we would, so long as no human actors appeared on screen.

We’re more than okay with this LEGO Jurassic Park “remake,” but only with this one.

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Believe it or not, Jurassic Park is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. The Steven Spielberg masterpiece about an ill-fated amusement park with real dinosaurs became a massive hit that spawned a franchise. Jurassic Park is perfect all-around, from its casting and script to its special effects and advanced animatronics. While we saw original cast members Laura Dern (Dr. Ellie Sattler) and Sam Neill (Dr. Alan Grant) return in Jurassic World Dominion (2022), it has been a while since we saw Lex Murphy. Dr. Hammond’s granddaughter hasn’t been in any Jurassic films since a brief cameo in the second installment; however, that doesn’t mean actress Ariana Richards doesn’t fondly remember the franchise. In fact, Richards recently did a TikTok duet featuring the classic Jurassic Park green Jell-O scene. 

She still conveys that same shock and fear so well. The TikTok clip certainly gives us a bump of nostalgia to see her alongside Lex in such an unforgettable Jurassic Park moment that was so intense that it made green Jell-O tremor in fear.

We doubt that Ariana Richards would return in any future films because she left the industry as an adult to focus on her art career. But we will always have Jurassic Park and this TikTok duet with the Jell-O scene to remind us how awesome she was in this universe.

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What is Steven Spielberg‘s greatest movie? What’s his most important one? Okay, but what’s your personal favorite? It wouldn’t be surprising if you gave a totally different answer for each of those question. His directorial career is so impressive and so unassailable that it’s almost impossible to name one film as his definitive best anything. No one else in Hollywood history can match either the breadth of his resume—which covers almost every genre—or his sheer number of amazing films. Yet one single scene from his illustrious career stands above all the rest. Not simply because it is Spielberg at his absolute best, but it distills everything we love about going to the movies. He brought dinosaurs to life.

In 1993, the original Jurassic Park wasn’t the best Steven Spielberg film released that year. Schindler’s List takes that title. But for all his accomplishments, no other director has ever done a better job of bringing childlike wonder to the screen. And there’s nothing more wondrous than seeing an actual dinosaur. The iconic, unforgettable first time we see one in Jurassic Park shows him using all of his best, signature techniques to create one of the absolute greatest moments in cinematic history.

This scene utilizes all of the best Spielberg-esque tools of the trade to maximum effect: it has a big, sweeping, epic score (from John Williams), perfect use of “Spielberg face“—those tight close reaction shots that not only let us see what the characters are feeling in a moment of complete awe, they help shape our own reactions—followed by the big reveal which gives the entire moment the right scope and emotional weight. It also moves the plot along in subtle and logical ways. Like how the lawyer says they’re “going to make a fortune.” And it introduces the terrifying T-Rex who will prove so important later. It seamlessly moves the action onto the next scene, without diminishing the magnitude.

But there is wonder in even the small moments, like how the anonymous Jeep driver who has already seen dinosaurs before can’t help but turn and look at Ian Malcolm as he is overcome by the moment. These characters are in an unreal situation but they react like authentic people. All of the elements come together to make a scene where dinosaurs roam the earth feel down to Earth and accessible for the audience. It’s so good a character says the title of the film and it gives you chills.

And it’s everything we love about the movies. There is no other medium that could replicate this exact moment in such a powerful and memorable way. The feeling, the grand visuals, the music, the possibility of the impossible, all of it. Great movies transport us. And they make us believe there’s no limit to where we can go or what we can do. Including walking among dinosaurs.

We can debate where Jurassic Park ranks among Steven Spielberg’s best movies. But there’s no arguing he was ever better than when he made dinosaurs real again.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Twitter at  @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

Originally published on June 11, 2018.

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When you gotta go, you gotta go. But in the case of hapless lawyer Donald Gennaro in Jurassic Park, the decision might just get you killed. Mattel Creation’s San Diego Comic-Con exclusive action figure set depicts this memorable scene from the nearly 30-year-old movie. It comes with articulating Gennaro with hat and briefcase, collapsing tiki-style bathroom, and of course a Tyrannosaurus rex. Recreate the scene where, as the Mattel Instagram account put it, “a rampaging T. rex made him a dessert ‘a la commode.'” After all, who doesn’t want to add this Jurassic Park toilet kill to their toybox?

The Outhouse Chaos Set is part of the Jurassic World Hammond Collection of high-quality fan-service action figures. The T. rex is described as “rain deco,” which we assume means it looks darker and wetter than the regular T. rex in the Hammond collection. Mattel hasn’t released the price, but that solo dino costs $54.

Other creative additions to Mattel’s Jurassic Park playsets include 2021’s Comic-Con exclusive of Samuel L. Jackson’s character de-limbing by a velociraptor. And a Dennis Nedry action figure packaged inside a shaving cream can. And those are all pretty good, but this Jurassic Park toilet set still comes in as our favorite.

You can also buy action figures of Alan Grant and Ian Malcolm wielding flares to try and lure the T. Rex away. Or pre-order the set depicting the thirst-inducing scene of Ian Malcolm shirtless after his own run-in with the T. rex.

Like that set, Gennaro’s outhouse adventure comes with lights and sounds to set the scene. Whether those will include rain or roars is currently unknown. Screams and pleas are essentially Gennaro’s only lines during that part of the movie. That could be a bit unsettling coming from a toy. As would the articulating body coming apart, though that also happens in the movie. Then again, this Jurassic Park toy set depicts a brutal toilet murder, so, we wouldn’t be surprised.

The action figure set is available starting at 9 am on July 22 on Mattel Creation’s website or in-person at San Diego Comic-Con. 

Melissa is Nerdist’s science & technology staff writer. She also moderates “science of” panels at conventions and co-hosts Star Warsologies, a podcast about science and Star Wars. Follow her on Twitter @melissatruth. 

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People often exaggerate when they say, “I think about that :insert random thing: at least once a month.” I’m guilty of doing that sometimes, too. But not when it comes to Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Honestly, and without hyperbole, I think about that movie every few weeks. And with good reason. Life provides constant reminders of a sequence that has confused me ever since I saw the film. It’s a moment so inexplicable it will haunt me until the day I die. I will never get over the the prices dinosaurs sold for at auction.

The people putting on Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom‘s invite-only dinosaur auction were smart enough to steal dinosaurs and organize this event. It was also not for any “normal” rich person, either. It was for the top .01%. Representatives for a pharmaceutical company, a Houston oil magnate, and a Slovenian arms dealer were in attendance. As was a suspicious Russian with an unknown title looking for two carnivores. And considering the sellers spoke to him, and only him, you know that guy had deep pockets and powerful allies. He might have secretly represented the Russian government itself. Regardless of his affiliation, the movie made clear this was a big night for making some big bucks. Buyers could purchase dinosaurs either meant to serve as pets or meant to serve as weapons.

At least that’s what I thought going into the scene. I can still remember sitting in the theater and wondering what a living dinosaur might really fetch on the open market. Fifty billion dollars? Two hundred and fifty billion dollars? Half a trillion? More? I had no idea! I just knew rich people spend a whole lot of dough on a whole lot of stuff, including nonsense. So how could anyone put a number on owning your very own prehistoric creature? The potential sales tag seemed nearly unlimited. A dinosaur might literally be priceless. And whomever sold them, especially the most dangerous ones, would instantly become one of the richest people in the world, if not the richest person ever.

Then the first one dinosaur went for 10 million dollars. That is not a typo. It sold for 10 million. Yes, “million” with an “m” rather than a “b.” Million. Million. That price is so inane it doesn’t seem real. Billionaires waste $10 million on parties. Ten million is just 1/14th the price of the most expensive car in the world. But you don’t even need a real world comparison to know that amount is ridiculous. Danny Ocean’s crew each got more than that for robbing Terry Benedict!

The rest of the auction was just as bad. The film doesn’t show every dinosaur purchased or list exactly how much they went for. But we do hear “sold” a handful of times. Yet, going into (what turned out to be) the last lot, the auction had only garnered a measly $128 million total. The single highest price for a dinosaur at that point was a paltry $21 million. Again, not a typo.

It’s the last item, though, that took a nonsensical scene and turned it into an all-time movie disaster. Buyers started bidding on the not-originally-for sale Indoraptor. That genetically-engineered killer, with supernatural strength and intelligence, had no equal in history. Here’s how the film described this creature to a room of “discriminating buyers” that, once again, included major weapons dealers:

A creature of the future, made from pieces of the past! Ladies and gentlemen, please be warned: this is the perfect blend of the two most dangerous creatures that ever walked the Earth. We call it the Indoraptor. The perfect weapon for the modern age. Built for combat, with tactical responses more acute than any human soldier.

What would a hostile nation pay for that kind of weapon? Especially one Dr. Henry Wu warned the buyer could then clone to make more of? What would the United States pony up for one when, in the first Jurassic World, it originally planned to employ regular raptors in combat? How about an eccentric billionaire with more money than he could spend in a thousand lifetimes? Those guys have so much disposable income they’re trying to leave the planet and pretending to buy Twitter. So what would an Indoraptor truly go for? If you said only $28 million, you’d be right. No objective human being would think that price made any sense. To highlight just how absurd it is, here’s a list of some things that cost more than the deadliest weapon ever created:

• World’s Most Expensive Racehorse: $70 million
• Jeff Koons’ 41-Inch Tall Stainless Steel “Rabbit” Statue: $91.1 million
• Most Expensive Fighter Jet – Lockheed Martin’s F-35B: $135.8 million
• New York City’s Most Expensive Penthouse: $229.5 million
• Jeff Bezos’ Flying Fox Mega Yacht: $400 million
• Most Expensive Painting Ever Sold – “Salvator Mundi” by Leonardo da Vinci: $450 million

That list could have been nothing but modern art and it would have showed how ridiculous the dino auction was. But this very real record-setting sale is the best example, even if it’s a lot less than those other pricey items:

• Most Expensive Dinosaur Skeleton Ever Sold – $31.8 million

Yes, a T. rex skeleton sold for more than a living dinosaur. Now do you understand why this sequence has slowly driven me to question reality itself?

I know this scene will haunt me forever, too, and not just because I have a broken brain. It’s because I am constantly reminded of it. People spend gross amounts of money on things all the time. People also do impossibly goofy stuff all the time. And any time someone spends way too much money, or someone does something inexplicably stupid, I think about Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom‘s auction and always will. Because in a sci-fi franchise about resurrecting dinosaurs, the only thing I can’t believe is how little one would cost.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Twitter at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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In the run up to Jurassic World Dominion, Mattel Creations is releasing an action figure of the most meme-able moment from the original Jurassic Park. You know the one. They call it the “Unbuttoned Scene.” Dr. Ian Malcolm—bloody, leg bandaged, shirt open—reclines in all his glistening glory. Pre-order one of these glorious creations now.

It also includes a whole playset. The Ian Malcolm action figure, fossil wall background, even the not-velociraptor-proof door. It all comes inside a box made to look like Dr. Ian Malcolm’s book God Created Dinosaurs. Complete with an author photo that takes up the entire back of the dust jacket. Seems like something Malcolm would do.

It even includes sound effects. The figure recites eight of Malcolm’s famous lines, though the website doesn’t list what those are. Here’s hoping his flirtatious chuckle is one of them. Batteries are also required for the mood lighting, of course. They really thought of everything.

According to Mattel’s description, the Ian Malcolm figure has, “a glistening bare chest as shiny as the high-quality resin he’s made of.” Kudos to the copy writer for that. It also has 16 points of articulation. Unclear if any of those are in his broken and splinted leg.

Proving he’s still a thirst trap, Jeff Goldblum holds one of the sets in a photo on Mattel’s website. He’s a silver fox version of Vanna White, showing off the product.

This is not the first time the memorable scene has been immortalized. There’s a statue from Sideshow Toys and Valentine’s Day cards. Perfect gifts for the Jurassic Park, Ian Malcolm, Jeff Goldblum, or just general chaos fan in your life!

Melissa is Nerdist’s science & technology staff writer. She also moderates “science of” panels at conventions and co-hosts Star Warsologies, a podcast about science and Star Wars. Follow her on Twitter @melissatruth. 

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There’s now an online dino tracker, and it’s an excellent use of time. Based on the trailer for Jurassic World Dominion, we know dinosaurs have spread worldwide. Now we can see what’s happening in our neighborhoods, far beyond the reaches of the Costa Rican island parks.

There’s a Google Earth-like interface so you can get the full picture of their dispersal. The Department of Prehistoric Wildlife, which aims for the co-existence of dinosaurs and humans, runs the site. It lists sightings along with any verifying photos or video. Remarkably, there’s records of Brachiosaurus as far north as Finland and as far south as Brazil.

There’s a field guide with information about each dinosaur, including fun facts and how to recognize signs that they are nearby. Each species’ aggression level is also stated, from low to extremely high. And it’s not always what you’d expect. Of course, predatory species like Baryonyx and Dimorphodon are highly aggressive. But even territorial herbivores like Triceratops pose a threat if approached.

Like with wild animals, there are also instructions of what to do and what not to do if you spot one. As in real life, something that will save you in one situation could get you killed in another. For example, waving your arms and making noise may ward off Pteranodons. But it may cause an Ankylosaurus to attack. 

The dino tracker is a well-executed site with information about how to keep both yourself and the dinosaurs safe during any interactions. It’s clear they have a lot to get used to in our world. Cars, animal traps, and other hazards pose a threat to them. And obviously they pose a threat to humanity.

More reports are flooding in via #dinotracker on Twitter. There’s lots of species in the field guide that aren’t on the tracker yet. We expect it to fill in between now and the movie’s release. Make sure to report your own sightings! And stay safe out there.

Melissa is Nerdist’s science & technology staff writer. She still has nightmares after seeing Jurassic Park at the age of ten. Melissa also moderates “science of” panels at conventions and co-hosts Star Warsologies, a podcast about science and Star Wars. Follow her on Twitter @melissatruth. 

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Even before Dr. John Hammond invited guests into Jurassic Park people and dinosaurs proved a fatal mix. Five films and a billion-dollar franchise later, mankind still hasn’t learned its lesson. Now humanity will truly be forced to grapple with the hubris of its greatest scientists in Jurassic World Dominion. The film’s newest trailer promises a worldwide battle for supremacy millions of years in the making. And two generations of stars are the only hope to stop those prehistoric creatures.

This story always had to end this way. So long as there was a dollar to be made on creating dinosaurs, foolish people, both those with good intentions and those with nefarious motives, were going to push things too far. And that’s what humanity will be dealing with in Jurassic World Dominion. Here’s the official synopsis from Universal:

From Jurassic World architect and director Colin Trevorrow, Dominion takes place four years after Isla Nublar has been destroyed. Dinosaurs now live—and hunt—alongside humans all over the world. This fragile balance will reshape the future and determine, once and for all, whether human beings are to remain the apex predators on a planet they now share with history’s most fearsome creatures.

This trailer shows how widespread the problem really is. It goes well alongside the two short prologue pieces for the film that offer a glimpse at how life has changed with dinosaurs on the prowl.

If you need a team to lead your global efforts to save mankind, best to turn to those with the most dinosaur experience. Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, and Sam Neill aren’t the film’s only returning stars, though. BD Wong (Dr. Henry Wu), Justice Smith (Franklin Webb), Daniella Pineda (Dr. Zia Rodrigue), and Omar Sy (Barry Sembenè) will also join them for one more adventure. Newcomers DeWanda Wise (She’s Gotta Have It), Mamoudou Athie (Archive 81), Dichen Lachman (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Scott Haze (Minari), and Campbell Scott (The Amazing Spider-Man 2) are also along for this prehistoric battle.

Will mankind survive? Will dinosaurs reign over the planet once more? Or will the two species learn to coexist? We won’t find out until Jurassic World Dominion stomps into theaters on June 10. But we already know one thing: not everyone will survive this fight. Humans never do.

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The Jurassic Park franchise has given us so much. Just think about how many people those prehistoric creatures have consumed for our enjoyment! Soon, though, it will deliver an epic story that combines generations of stars. But Jurassic World Dominion will provide us with even more than a sixth film in the series. It’s also the reason one of the world’s funniest costumes will soon be a ridiculous toy. Jakks Pacific will let you go on the hunt with a remote-controlled six-foot inflatable T. rex.

The new AirTitans Jurassic World Massive Attack T. rex R/C is more than six feet of terror and fun. This constant air dinosaur fully inflates in just 20 seconds. Without any other features it would make for a great addition to any playroom. But this dino comes with a 2.4 GHz full-function radio control. You can use the remote control to activate more than a dozen sound effects, like various T. rex stomps and roars. The inflatable T. rex also comes with a rechargeable USB battery to keep it going. That’s vastly superior than needing to feed it live goats.

But what good is a dinosaur that can’t move? We wouldn’t be getting a sixth film if those prehistoric monsters stayed put. That’s why you can set off attack mode, which Jakks says “temporarily takes the control away and gives the power back to the T. rex for uncontrollable fun.” Your dino will then “thrash its tiny arms and stomp her way through the neighborhood or into any social situation including parties, virtual meetings or even backyard family get togethers.”

That is, quite literally, what we want to do with a six-foot remote-controlled inflatable dinosaur.

Designed for ages 8 and up, the AirTitans Jurassic World Massive Attack T. rex R/C ($129.99) will be available at online retail stores this spring. That means you can bring yours to provide company when you stand in line for Jurassic World Dominion June 10. That way you can give back to the franchise that has given us so many dinosaurs.

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We know what we’ll be getting from Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic World Dominion. But now we also have an idea what to expect from Wise’s Watts. She told Empire her character is “fresh out” of the Air Force. And when we meet her she’ll be primarily flying cargo. She says that will include “mostly dinosaur stuff,” but also anything that needs to get somewhere. That will include flying Owen Grady and Claire Dearing during one of the most intense moments teased in the film’s trailers. (Although we’ll also see her on the ground plenty, including in what appears to be a knife fight with some prehistoric beasts.)

But while her character sounds like she’ll be a valuable ally in the fight to save mankind from dino extinction, Wise herself couldn’t help but be moved by one of the film’s adorable puppets. She says she fell in love with a Lystrosaurus she dubbed Leonard. Even though she said logically she knew Leonard wasn’t real, she couldn’t help but feel affection for him. Something she says any animal lover will also experience watching the movie.

That’s fun for Wise, but we imagine the characters in the movie will hope her Watts isn’t as touched by them. There’s not much time to gawk at dinosaurs when they’re trying to eat you and establish their own dominion.

See DeWanda Wise in Jurassic World Dominion, releasing on June 10.

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LEGO‘s newest adult-oriented set measures over 6-inches high, 23-inches wide, and 8.5-inches deep. It celebrates the moment when Jurassic Park went from amusement park to total nightmare. The 1,212-piece build-and-display model joins the “fun” that followed Dennis Nedry’s sabotage. That’s when the T. rex broke through the no-longer electrified fence. The set recreates the middle of the chaos that followed. The posable T. rex figure stands atop a flipped over Ford Explorer. A second, still-intact Explorer sits opposite. As minifigures for Alan Grant, Ian Malcolm, Tim Murphy, and Lex Murphy fight to survive.

The collection also has some very cool extras. There’s buildable night-vision goggles, a flare, two water glass elements, a flashlight, CD-ROM touch-screen monitor, goat chain, T. rex footprints, and more. It also comes with a display stand so you can easily keep it together. (Unlike the LEGO lawyer who is already hiding, though not for long, in an unseen nearby LEGO bathroom.) You’ll also get a companion booklet with full step-by-step instructions to build your own.

You can pre-order yours now from LEGO’s online store. The T. Rex Breakout set ($99.99) starts shipping April 17. Since Jurassic World Dominion doesn’t hit theaters until June 10, you’ll have some time to remember when a dinosaur revolution was thankfully limited to one small island and not the entire planet. You know, the good ol’ days.

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They’re back! And we don’t just mean dinosaurs. The first trailer for Jurassic World Dominion marks the reunion of three beloved stars from the franchise’s first film. Ellie Sattler, Alan Grant, and Ian Malcolm will come together to help a new generation deal with a problem of prehistoric proportions. Those beasts broke free of their island cage and now they’re running rampant around the world. And they’re not just a threat to mankind’s way of life. Those dinos could mark the end of humanity forever.

This absolutely loaded trailer starts off on a bit of a silly note. It features Chris Pratt’s Owen Grady on horseback herding some free range dinos. He’s still doing his gentle nose touch thing too, which is especially funny when he’s dressed like a cowboy. His insistence on treating raptors like puppies continues. But from there this promo goes all out in the best way. Dinosaurs are anywhere and everywhere you’ll find people across the globe. (Though no longer at the Olympics.) Some are gentle giants. Others are dangerous carnivores. But all of them represent an existential danger. The kind that will get an old crew out of retirement for one last epic job.

Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, and Sam Neill will be more than just cameos in this movie. All three will play a major role working with Pratt’s Grady and Bryce Dallas Howard’s Claire Dearing. And if you’re a fan of this franchise, seeing those three return is a pretty incredible moment. So long as none of them get eaten. They’ve made it so long without being dino dinner! Do do them like that now!

Other returning stars from the series include BD Wong (and his amazing hair) as Dr. Henry Wu, Justice Smith as Franklin Webb, Daniella Pineda as Dr. Zia Rodriguez, and Omar Sy as Barry Sembenè. They’re joined by newcomers DeWanda Wise (She’s Gotta Have It), Mamoudou Athie (Archive 81), Dichen Lachman (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Scott Haze (Minari), and Campbell Scott (The Amazing Spider-Man 2).

Directed by Colin Trevorrow, with a script from him and Emily Carmichael, Jurassic World Dominion comes to theaters this summer, June 10. Because life is not the only thing that finds a way. Profitable movie franchises with generations of fans do too.

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I have no idea what kind of memorable moments the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing will produce. Nor do I know which athletes will bask in the international spotlight and ensure their place in the event’s history. What I do know is that no matter what happens, I will never forget these games because of a ludicrous crossover commercial NBC ran on their first night. It’s an Olympics/Jurassic World: Dominion crossover ad that totally broke my brain.

Every single Olympics debuts new commercials starring athletes competing in those very same games. And whether they’re for something like an apparel, credit card, or insurance company, they’re not especially surprising, let alone confusing. That was not the case with an absurd Jurassic World promo that ran during early qualifying events on NBC’s first night of Olympics programming. The ad features three American Olympians: snowboarder Shaun White, skier Mikaela Shiffrin, and figure skater Nathan Chen. In the commercial, all three train by themselves out alone in nature. It’s a serene and beautiful sight, athletes practicing with nary a soul in sight. (Pretty standard fare, all things considered. My brain was totally fine at this point.)

Then dinosaurs show up. Dinosaurs. Without warning or explanation. (That’s the moment my brain started to crack.)

The prehistoric creatures look on with curiosity at White and Chen. Especially at Chen, who appears to be skating on the frozen lake from Game of Thrones. Only instead of wights chasing him, he’s surrounded by dinosaurs.

(No, really, is that the frozen lake from north of the Wall? I must know!)

At least White and Chen are objects of interest. A chasing velociraptor views poor Mikaela Shiffrin as an object of dinner. And she likely would have met that gruesome fate if not for the arrival of a T.rex…who then chases her down the mountain. (This is when my brain shattered. Possibly forever.)

A few hours later, once I accepted this was a real commercial and not a fever dream, I understood what just happened. Jurassic World: Dominion will feature dinos on the loose out in the real world. This commercial is teasing that terrifying premise. In that sense, this commercial is completely reasonable. However, that DOES NOT EXPLAIN what any of this has to do with the Olympics… Sorry, still not used to my new piecemeal brain. I’ll need some time. I’ll also need dinosaurs to eat at least seven Olympians in Jurassic World: Dominion, so this makes sense in retrospect.

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This official new prologue opens like a BBC Earth nature doc. It follows a bevy of different dinosaurs—including seven new species never before seen in a Jurassic Park film, according to a release. The dinos serenely go about their lives. (That is until an inevitable clash leads to a fierce dino battle.) This segment of the Jurassic World: Dominion prologue is generally peaceful, if not downright beautiful. But it’s also incredibly ominous. Seeing huge populations of dinosaurs roaming the Earth does not portend well for mankind 65 million years later. And those shots of mosquitos buzzing around serve as a reminder of the tiny event that could ultimately doom humanity to extinction.

The possibility of that future becoming a reality is hammered home by the second half of the short. Chaos consumes a drive-in theater when a giant T.rex crashes the screening. People predictably panic as a helicopter full of soldiers is unable to bring down the beast. Clearly, catching all these rogue dinosaurs will be a monster undertaking. One without any guarantee of success. And many innocent people are likely to die while the government tries to stop the animals. Not great for these fictional moviegoers. But at least we got an awesome poster from Universal Pictures for their troubles.

This is the second prologue for the film. A previous short showed a campground overrun by dinosaurs. But this new look, which will not be included in the movie either, makes clear that finding a way to co-exist with dinosaurs is all but impossible. Stupid mosquitos! And, to be fair, stupid man playing god!

Free-range dinosaurs should make for a great, terrifying story. So long as it remains entirely on the screen. If a T.rex invades our screening, we’ll feel very differently.

Jurassic World: Dominion roars into theaters June 10, 2022.

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Archaeologists have yet to find any evidence dinosaurs had their own arcades. Probably because the T.Rexes got upset that they couldn’t play with their little arms. But Stern Pinball is now bringing Steven Spielberg’s big screen classic to mankind’s own gaming rooms. The company calls its newest game “a pinball adventure 65 million years in the making.” Welcome to the new Jurassic Park Pin.

Avoid killer prehistoric monsters, make it home safely, and rack up points with Stern’s newest machine. Jurassic Park Pin lets players explore Isla Nublar one shiny metal ball at a time. And in true franchise fashion, the bio-engineered attractions are on the loose. All while the island’s volcano is erupting, like in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. You’ll need to avoid going on tilt if you hope to accomplish all your goals in this pinball game. Players will have to “rescue park staff, evacuate and recapture dinosaurs, and escape before it’s too late.”

The game, which comes in a cabinet featuring “high definition, hand-drawn artwork,” also looks like the park come to life. From the game’s official description:

“Jurassic Park Pin brings to life the most fearsome predator ever to walk the earth with an interactive, custom sculpted T. rex. Players will battle against the Spinosaurus by bashing a captive ball and corral Raptors in their enclosed pen with precision shooting. Fast flowing metal ramps, lightning quick spinners, and kinetically satisfying physical drop targets will provide players with an adrenalized game experience packed with unmatched action and fun. The all-LED playfield lighting provides dazzling light shows in sync with the iconic Jurassic Park theme music to create an immersive pinball experience.”

Stern Pinball

Players will also hear the film’s iconic theme song. And it also boasts Stern’s SPIKE electronics hardware system, which provides “high-definition graphics and innovative animations on the LCD display.”

Obviously, Stern has spared no expense with its Jurassic Park Pin. And you’ll have to dig deep into your wallet too if you want one in your home or arcade. This machine comes with a price tag of $4,599. But unlike an actual visit to the park, at least you don’t have to worry about a dinosaur eating you. This machine only eats quarters.

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How can you make sure gamers pay attention to your announcement trailer? The same way you can get anyone to pay attention to anything: make sure Jeff Goldblum is involved. Especially if you’re announcing a new installment into the Jurassic Park franchise. Because there’s no better person to tell the world about Jurassic World Evolution 2 than Dr. Ian Malcolm. Especially when he’ll be a big part of the game.

The Jurassic Park alum narrates the….uh….the, what do you call it? The….ah, yes…..announcement trailer for the follow-up to the 2018 management simulation game. The sequel will give fans a way to return to the now fallen amusement park. It features a “new narrative campaign” set after Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. (Which saw the island destroyed entirely.) Frontier Developments says the game will also have new features and new dinosaurs, all “brought to life with captivating realism.” That includes “deeper management tools and creative options, fresh buildings to construct and customize, or handy shortcuts to make life easier.”

While this trailer gives us an idea of the graphics and tone of the game—which in true Jurassic Park fashion goes from serene and beautiful to terrifying—the official synopsis offers an introduction to the story and what challenges await. From the game’s website:

“Players will leave the Muertes Archipelago for the first time and build their own authentic Jurassic Worlds across diverse new environments, from dense forests to scorched deserts, in efforts to conserve and contain more than 75 prehistoric species. These include all-new flying and marine reptiles, brought to life with captivating realism. They’ll display brand new behaviours as they interact with each other, fight for dominance, and react intelligently to the world around them.”

Frontier Developments

The single player campaign will also feature Goldblum’s Dr. Ian Malcolm. As well as Bryce Dallas Howard’s Claire Dearing. In Fallen Kingdom, Dr. Malcolm warned the world about the dangers of dinosaurs. While Dearing worked to save the animals from an impending volcanic eruption. Both actors will also appear in Jurassic World: Dominion.

Jurassic World Evolution 2 will also come with a new Chaos Theory mode. Ah…yes….but of course. Chaos Theory mode “offers a reimagined take on pivotal moments from the Jurassic World film franchise as players strive to make their own mark and change the course of events.” For those “looking to unleash their creativity,” Sandbox mode will give players everything they need to create their own “perfect Park.” (Might be tough to make it “perfect.” You know, with it falling apart and prehistoric monsters on the lose.) And Challenge mode will test players “mastery of the game.”

Frontier Developments

We’ll assume Dinosaur Eats You mode is more of an implicit general level. And we’ll find out when the game debuts on November 9, 2021. You’ll be able to get it for your PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, and Xbox One.

No matter your console or system of choice, we know one thing will be true: we’ll want to hear more of Jeff Goldblum.

Originally published June 10, 2021.

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There are times when you need your shoes to come through for you. Like when you’re covertly stealing dinosaur embryos with a can of shaving cream. One moment you’re eating pie, the next you’re in the mud standing face to face with a prehistoric creature. That’s when you really need good traction to get away. But if you also want to flee with some panache, you might want to get a pair of Reebok’s new Jurassic Park sneakers designed to look like the movie’s iconic trucks.

Reebok

The new Jurassic Park x Reebok Instapump Fury shoes are welcoming sneakerheads and fans of the franchise back to the park. They feature an aesthetic that is instantly recognizable to moviegoers. These sneakers have yellow soles with a scaly texture. A red dino-stripe pattern also runs through the green upper half of the shoes. The pumps also have the park’s official logo, a T. rex skeleton. And there are tabs on both the tongue and heel that read “Reebok Classic” and “Jurassic Park.”

The sneaker’s bottom also has a wonderful little extra detail. These shoes are based on the famous Ford Explorer tour vehicles used at the park in the original film. (And then seen again in the first Jurassic World movie.) If you flip these over like two kids are inside, you’ll find an exposed undercarriage. It’s like a giant dinosaur ripped them apart.

Reebok

According to Born in Space, the Jurassic Park x Reebok Instapump Fury sneakers go on sale June 1. They’ll run for $180, which strangely seems like a low price tag. These are going to sell out and become a hot commodity on the secondary market. And they’ll go for a lot more than $180 out there.

Because as we all know, when it comes to Jurassic Park, fans will spare no expense.

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They can—and probably will—make Jurassic Park movies forever, because the idea of a dinosaur eating us will always be scary. It’s why the upcoming Jurassic World VR game has us freaked out. But there’s another type of fright that will never get old either: a rollercoaster. And Universal Orlando‘s newest one will combine amusement park thrills with Isla Nublar terror, with the first-ever Jurassic Park rollercoaster.

But even though we won’t become dinner, the VelociCoaster will still be plenty terrifying.

“Step into Jurassic Park and stand in awe and wonder at a land transformed by science after 65 million years. But don’t be deceived by the island’s beauty because danger lurks behind every corner. Only here can you live the adventure of coming face to face with giant creatures of the Earth’s past, encounter raptors roaming every day, or take a daring raft expedition through jungles teeming with dinosaurs. For those brave enough to visit the raptor paddock, you may be able to carefully approach one of these deadly predators. Then feel the rush of the hunt as you race through the jungle alongside raptors on the Jurassic World VelociCoaster, a new species of roller coaster coming Summer 2021.”

Last fall, Universal Orlando announced its next thrill ride. It will bring guests into Jurassic World, minus the threat of a dinosaur outbreak. And this 4,700-foot VelociCoaster sounds pretty dang intense. The ride will have two different launches and reach speeds of up to 70 m.p.h. in 2.4 seconds. It will also include a 360-degree barrel roll and a first-of-its kind zero-gravity inverted stall. That will have riders upside down for 100 feet of the ride. The coaster will also have a “top hat.” It will send guests 155 feet into the air before they make an 80-degree plunge.

Universal Orlando

The VelociCoaster, set in the Jurassic World timeline, will also feature an original story. Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, and BD Wong will appear during the ride. We’ll also get to see the films’ Velociraptor pack: Blue, Charlie, Delta and Echo. The “apex predator of coasters” will opens this summer, on June 10.

Ride it on an empty stomach, though. This ride will combine the terror of a rollercoaster with our fear of dinosaurs.  And while those dinos aren’t real, that’s never stopped us from being scared of them before.

This article was originally posted on September 29, 2020. 

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I still remember the first time that I watched Jurassic Park. Like many kids, I dreamed of growing up to be a paleontologist and could name 50 dinosaurs off the top of my head. But despite my excitement, the overwhelming memory I have is the fear and anticipation. The jolting horror of the brutal opening. The monster movie terror of the T. rex jeep attack. The adrenaline-filled exhilaration of the stampede sequence. The unbearable tension of the raptors in the kitchen. I loved every second of it. And with that trepidation came a sense of awe, which had nothing to do with the genetically engineered creatures and everything to do with the massive scope. That affecting combination is hard to recreate, but Netflix’s new animated series Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous does a surprisingly great job.

From the very first episode, the show offers up legitimate thrills and visceral scares that lean into the best of the dino-disaster franchise. Just like every Jurassic Park story, the series begins with a setup that would make any public safety official weep and every personal injury attorney rejoice. Concurrent to the events of the 2015 movie that rebooted the franchise, a group of young teens have been brought in to test out the new summer camp for the Masrani Global Corporation.

There’s plenty of little things to love about the show: the kids are cute, their designs and personalities are impressively eclectic, the writing is funny and kind, and the main character Darius is the kind of hero we rarely get to see in action-adventure stories. All of that is great, but I’m really here to talk about those scares, of which there are plenty. Camp Cretaceous‘ biggest strength in this arena—pun very much intended—is the way that it uses the visual language, recognizable locations, and the mise en scene of the original series to establish fearful anticipation in a completely new medium and aesthetic that is far less obviously scary.

Netflix

From the outset, Camp Cretaceous aims to capture the wonder of the park. As we’re seeing it through the eyes of children, that comes relatively naturally. Despite the small screen presentation, there’s still plenty of moments that showcase the scope of the island. A super cool treehouse that allows the viewer to overlook jungles filled with large trees that seem to extend forever. Later in the series, we get a particularly terrifying and beautiful moment where the kids catch the magnificent sight of a massive Brachiosaur wandering through the treetops before quickly realizing the lumbering herbivore is not alone.

The end of the premiere episode is our first hint at the horrors to come. Already left alone, the kids decide to do what any kid too young to remember the reality of Jurassic Park would do: they sneak out. Their quest leads them to the relatively safe Compy cage, where brave self-appointed VIP visitor Kenji offers to explore the cage for popular YouTuber Brooklyn and her millions of followers. The twist: the crew has actually wandered into the Velociraptor pen.

Netflix

It would have been easy for the show to rely solely on the violent predators for the scare, but instead they seed it with some classic Jurassic Park tricks. Treetops shake, steam rises, and there’s an eerie silence all before dino-expert Darius whispers, “This isn’t the Compy enclosure.” Despite the soft-edged look of the series, a chill of fear ran through me. You know exactly what’s coming next, simply because of the clever use of tropes and visual clues that the sequence so smartly utilizes. It also works as a funny reassurance that the absolute disregard for health and safety Jurassic Park thrives on is still intact on this side of the island, even with a cast of young kids. Put it this way: even after that, all the kids are allowed to stay at camp with no repercussions and barely any adult supervision for the rest of the show.

Over eight episodes, we see the kids slowly come to terms with what’s going on in the wider park. What begins as a slow-burn series about the lack of responsible adults at an ill-advised summer camp quickly ramps up into a full-on survival story. Even as the action becomes more intense, Camp Cretaceous never loses sight of how the quiet moments before a dinosaur attack are some of the most frightening. One particular moment that sums the power of the show so well to me features an instantly recognizable location from Jurassic World.

Netflix

I’ve always had a deep fear of, well… deep water. The idea of something lurking beneath the surface has inspired many nightmares and panicked swims back to the nearest land. Those fears have always been intertwined with the excitement that comes from the thrill of terror. Like poking a cavity with your tongue, I’ve sought out as many terrible tales of terrifying sea creatures as I could, so I’m a huge fan of Jurassic World’s addition of the Mosasaurus. Whatever your feelings about the rebooted franchise, the introduction of Jurassic Lagoon has given the new films some of their most exciting moments, and Camp Cretaceous adds another. As the children aim to escape the rampaging dinosaurs, they find themselves on the River Adventure ride paddling kayaks through the park, but end up at the home of the Mosasaur.

It’s as scary as it sounds, literally making my knees wobble. And if you remember Jurassic World well enough, you’ll realize where the kids are long before they do. The sequence sums up just how well Camp Cretaceous embodies what makes the Jurassic Park films work, and if you’re a fan of those movies then you need to add this unexpectedly thrilling series to your watchlist.

Featured Image: Netflix

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After five movies, I know I would not live through a disaster at Jurassic Park. I don’t know enough about dinosaurs to either elude or deceive them. Nor am I physically fit enough to flee a prehistoric monster on the hunt. If I got stuck on Isla Nublar, I would quickly become a meal. And yet, I’d still love to visit! Fortunately, I’ll soon be able to do that in the safest way possible. The new Jurassic World Aftermath for Oculus Quest will put gamers in the middle of a virtual reality fight for survival against killer dinos.

But the first trailer shows that even though the animals won’t be real, the scares still will be.

Oculus is going to let players virtually get up close and personal with some Velociraptors, with the new “suspenseful, survival VR adventure” game Jurassic World Aftermath. It’s going to let you experience the terror of fleeing for your life as those clever girls hunt you across the park.

The game will also offer up a whole new chapter in the franchise’s decades-long story. It takes place two years after the Jurassic World amusement park fell. And in classic Jurassic Park sequel fashion, clearly no has learned anything from previous trips to the island.

“The mission: recover valuable research materials from an abandoned research facility. Your only hope of escape is to get the confidential information before the Velociraptors get you.

To survive, you’ll need to explore the research facility, solve puzzles, and find ways to outsmart the ferocious Velociraptors that are stalking your every move — all in fully immersive VR.”

Oculus

The game also promises “eye-popping visuals.” (Don’t worry, the virtual dinosaurs won’t actually pop out your eyes. We think.) It features “vibrant cell-shaded visuals” that “enhance the intensity and the thrills” of the VR experience.

Which should really help sell the horrible nightmare of a dinosaur chasing you. Which is why I can’t wait to play. I’ve always wanted to visit Jurassic Park. But I’d prefer to do so without actually being eaten.

Featured Image: Oculus

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It’s impossible to definitively name one track as John Williams’ unquestioned greatest song. He’s responsible for too many iconic cinematic scores to do that. His main theme for Jurassic Park is definitely in the conversation, though. It’s an incredible, moving, beautiful piece on its own, and it also helped create what might be Steven Spielberg’s single greatest movie moment. A new cover shows the song is gorgeous even without a full orchestra. One of our favorite internet musicians played it with eight separate cello performances.

Samara Ginsberg has been regaling us with wonderful covers of famous pop culture songs throughout quarantine. Previously, she wowed us with her cello-only renditions the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles theme and the opening credits track from the ’90s animated X-Men series. Not only do her covers remind us of why we love those song so much, they’re really the best advertisement we’ve ever seen for learning the cello.

Her latest performance is among her best yet, as she took on one of our all-time favorite movie songs. Seriously, it’s impossible to overstate how much we love John Williams’ Jurassic Park theme. And this cover highlights why we do, as it captures the beauty of its composition and tone.

Samara Ginsberg

We’re also huge fans of the fact she played all eight parts while wearing a silly green dinosaur costume. Not every classically trained musician would do that. But that’s exactly the kind of dedication we love.

Make sure you check out Ginsberg’s official YouTube channel. She has tons of other great pop culture cello-only covers, including her very fun rendition of the DuckTales theme.

We might never find consensus on which John Williams’ song is his greatest of all-time. But that’s fine, because we can at least agree we would very much like to hear cello versions of all of them.

Featured Image: Samara Ginsberg

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Neill posted a wonderful video to his Twitter account of him and Goldblum doing a fun, loose, and genuinely pretty rendition of the American songbook classic “I Remember You.” The song was originally recorded in 1942. And this Jurassic Park-inspired rendition wouldn’t have felt out of place back then.

Goldblum, who in his free time also dabbles as a jazz musician, provided backing vocals and intermittent commentary for Neill’s lead vocals, in a performance that could have easily taken place in a smoky underground jazz club full of people who know they’re cooler than everyone else.

The pair followed that up with another #JamWithJeff. They sang the classic standard, “September Song.” It originally debuted on Broadway in 1938’s Knickerbocker Holiday. And we smell a revival in the works.

Neill says Goldblum “flatly refuses to rehearse” before recording, so each of these videos captures the first time they sang them together. But that’s a big part of their allure and charm, as both are performing off the cuff. (Neill can keep a straight face through Goldblum’s ad-libbing because he’s a professional.)

This is the rare case where we’re glad they didn’t think about whether or not they should, they just did.

Universal Pictures

Now, do we expect to see Doctors Ian Malcolm and Allan Grant crooning together in Jurassic World: Dominion? No, but that’s okay. Just filming the movie together made these duets possible in the first place. And that means the movie is already a success.

Featured Image: Universal Pictures

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In keeping with the tradition instituted by the Steven Spielberg-directed Jurassic Park films, Colin Trevorrow’s 2015 entry in the franchise, Jurassic World, capped an onslaught of chaos, destruction, trauma, and even death with a veritably happy ending. The kids at the center of the story got out okay. Ditto the top-billed adults (Bryce Dallas Howard and Chris Pratt). But lest you forget about the grisly fate that befell Howard’s assistant, things may not have gone so smoothly for the great many other park-goers on that fateful day at the eponymous tourist attraction. Now, Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous raises the question: What about everyone else?

The first trailer for the animated television series, which takes place alongside the events of Jurassic World, introduces us to a group of teenage park-goers. And in this group of plucky young heroes, there seems to be one of every sort: the adventurous leader-to-be, the nervous kid who pukes off the side of the safari van, the perpetually plugged-in one who’s chronicling the whole ordeal on her vlog, and… well, it’s only a two-minute trailer, so I’m sure we’ll get a better sense of what the remaining characters have to offer come the season’s release on Netflix on September 18.

Meanwhile, the trailer does show off a good amount of dino animation. We see long-necked leaf-eaters, high-flying pterosaurs, that one gargantuan aquatic thing that really made a name for itself in Jurassic World. And—it wouldn’t be a Jurassic Park entry without ’em—the most fearsome of all: the Tyrannosaurus rex.

Netflix

In keeping with the medium of animation, Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous seems to soften the edges of the story a bit with a chipper vibe and goofy humor. But hey, that actually may be a nice change of pace, considering the status quo of absolute peril keeping a stronghold on the Jurassic series.

Featured Image: Netflix

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The Jurassic World franchise is finally making its way to the small screen as fans received their first full look at the upcoming animated series, Camp Cretaceous, which will be heading to Netflix later this year. Dan breaks down all the details on todays episode of Nerdist News!

What Jurassic World dinosaur is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

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No matter how many times the park’s security system fails and a bunch of people get eaten, we will always want to watch dinosaurs wreaking havoc. And this time, we won’t have to wait for Jurassic World: Dominion to hit the big screen; this fall, Netflix will premiere an original Jurassic Park computer-animated series. The first trailer for Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous proves there are worse things to deal with at summer camp than a snoring roommate.

Netflix and DreamWorks Animation have announced Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous will debut globally on September 18. Steven Spielberg, Colin Trevorrow, Frank Marshall (Fallen World producer), Scott Kreamer (Cleopatra in Space), and Aaron Hammersley (Star vs. the Forces of Evil) serve as executive producers on the series.

The show is not a sequel; it takes place during the timeline of Trevorrow’s 2015 Jurassic World, before the killer park has actually re-opened. Jurassic World was arguably the deadliest incident in franchise history. That catastrophe should make for an exciting eight-episode first season.

DreamWorks/Netflix

Here’s the series’ official synopsis from DreamWorks and Netflix:

“Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous follows a group of six teenagers chosen for a once-in-a-lifetime experience at a new adventure camp on the opposite side of Isla Nublar. When dinosaurs wreak havoc across the island, the campers are unable to reach the outside world and will quickly go from strangers to friends to family as they band together to survive.”

Sorry to the kids who were paying customers! Claire was too busy only worrying about her nephews to focus on literally everybody else. Good luck with the prehistoric monsters!

DreamWorks/Netflix

The show features Paul-Mikél Williams (Westworld) as “resident dinosaur expert Darius.” Jenna Ortega (You) plays “social media sensation Brooklynn.” Ryan Potter (Big Hero 6: The Series) voices “self-appointed VIP” Kenji. Raini Rodriguez (Bunk’d) stars as the “gregarious and enthusiastic” Sammy. Sean Giambrone (The Goldbergs) is “sensitive and bookish” Ben. And Kausar Mohammed (Silicon Valley) plays “world-class athlete” Yaz. Jameela Jamil (Legendary, The Good Place) and Glen Powell (Top Gun: Maverick) will voice the group’s recurring camp counselors Roxie and Dave.

Scott Kreamer and Aaron Hammersley also serve as showrunners. Consulting producer Zack Stentz developed the series.

No child has ever been eaten in the five Jurassic Park/World movies. They’ve been attacked, but never made into a meal. Will a kid’s cartoon be the first time that happens? Probably not. But we’re still going to watch to find out. We always do when dinosaurs are involved.

Featured Image: Netflix

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When extolling the virtues of the seminal classic and technological marvel that is the original Jurassic Park, many a fan in the know will spout the remarkable fact that the film’s dinosaurs claim no more than 15 minutes of screen time in the two-hour-long picture. This goes to show that the legacy of Steven Spielberg’s 1993 masterwork is not founded on the wonder of its dinos alone; among the elements that make Jurassic Park such a rich experience is the threesome of scientists at the center of its story. And good news for us: they’re back.

Universal Pictures has officially announced (by way of a press release broadcast by Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment) that Jurassic Park stars Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum will revive their characters for the forthcoming Jurassic World threequel, itself a direct follow-up to 2015’s Jurassic World and 2018’s Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom. While Goldblum had a bit part as the precocious Dr. Ian Malcolm in the latter film, Neill’s Dr. Alan Grant and Dern’s Dr. Ellie Sattler haven’t been seen since 2001’s Jurassic Park III (in which Grant spent most of his time dreaming of talking raptors).

Universal Pictures

The degree to which Grant, Sattler, and Malcolm will be involved in the adventures set to unfold in the third Jurassic World movie are yet to be seen. Neill recently told Yahoo Movies UK, “We’re all the way through the film, Jeff [Goldblum], and me, and Laura [Dern],” implying the trio will have more than just cameos.

It’ll be interesting to see how the old guard mingles with the new stars, Bryce Dallas Howard’s Claire Dearing and Chris Pratt’s Owen Grady.

Below is Universal’s press release, which broadcasts not only the return of Neill, Dern, and Goldblum, but the involvement of screenwriter Emily Carmichael, who co-wrote the forthcoming third film with returning director Colin Trevorrow. (Trevorrow helmed Jurassic World, but not the infinitely battier Fallen Kingdom, which was handled by A Monster Calls director J.A. Bayona.)

“When the whole world’s gone prehistoric, you call in the experts. Jurassic Park stars Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum are all set to reprise their legendary roles as Dr. Alan Grant, Dr. Ellie Sattler, and Dr. Ian Malcolm (respectively) in the third chapter in Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment’s Jurassic World saga. Neill, Dern and Golblum will be joining Jurassic World stars Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard for Jurassic World 3. Colin Trevorrow is returning to direct.

Joining the Jurassic team is Emily Carmichael (Pacific Rim Uprising, The Black Hole), who has co-written the Jurassic World 3 screenplay with Trevorrow. They worked from a story by Derek Connolly and Trevorrow, who together co-wrote Jurassic World and Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom.”

It remains to be seen how much dino actions our old friends will get up to in Jurassic World 3, but we’ll no doubt be pleased to see them all together once more. I guess it’s true what they say: they do travel in herds.

Featured Image: Universal Pictures

Note: This post was originally published on 9/25/19 and updated on 7/2/20.

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He’s one of the most instantly unlikable characters in cinema history, and somehow he’s become iconic for just how grating he is. We’re talking about Dennis Nedry, the computer programmer and cause of all the problems in the original Jurassic Park. Played by Wayne Knight, Nedry was a weasely tech nerd working for John Hammond.  Nerdy/Nedry… get it? Yeah. Not so subtle there, Michael Chrichton.

Nedry, of course, tried to sell out his employers for a little quick cash from a competitor, and famously ended up as lunch for a hungry Dilophosaurus. Now, you can capture that iconic moment on your shelf forever with a new pair of action figures from Mattel’s Jurassic Park Amber Collection.

Mattel Toys

The Dennis Nedry collector’s figure is approximately 6-inches tall, and enshrines his most famous moment in plastic forever. The moment when Nedry tries to run away from the island, but instead winds up with a chance meeting from a pint-sized spitting dinosaur. The figure also includes film-inspired accessories like the Barbasol can which hides the dinosaur DNA vials (in two pieces), and an extra pair of swappable hands allowing him to hold the can. He also comes with an extra swappable head to show Dilophosaurus poison spray on his face. The figure also comes with a display stand.

Mattel Toys

For even more fun, you can pair this figure with the Jurassic Park Dilophosaurus 6-inch scale figure. This feisty critter comes with a swappable frill for attack mode. You can remove the dino’s head to put on the frill and spit piece. Additional accessories include the East Dock sign with a spinning arrow and a figure display stand. Together with the Dennis Nedry figure, you can take this entire iconic scene which traumatized an entire generation of young moviegoers, and freeze it in amber (see what we did there?).

Both the Dennis Nedry and Dilophosaurus deluxe action figures are now available for pre-order from Entertainment Earth, and will set you back $26.99 for the Nedry figure, and $31.00 for the Dilophosaurus. You don’t want to wait 65 million years to get these.

Featured Image: Universal Pictures

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Trevorrow shared the film’s name on Twitter to commemorate the movie’s first day of filming. As far as title’s go it’s a pretty solid one—short and powerful. It also fits perfectly with where the story left off after the second Jurassic World film. After the most absurd auction in history (dinosaurs would not sell for so little), the dinosaurs who were saved from the island were released into the realm of mankind. A final montage showed them beginning to cause havoc for humanity. It made the T. rex invasion at the end of The Lost World seem like a reasonable problem.

A short film from Trevorrow last year offered further insight into what we would see in the trilogy’s third installment. The director’s “Battle at Big Rock” showed a family camp site being overrun by a dinosaur fight. Starring André Holland and Natalie Martinez, it also clued us into just how much dinos will terrorize the United States’ West Coast one year after the end of Fallen Kingdom. News reports mentioned other attacks and sightings, and the main family wasn’t surprised to see one appear. They didn’t expect to see one “all the way up here,” though, indicating the dinosaur problem was not under control.

To follow that up with a title like Jurassic World: Dominion is not a great sign for those of you still rooting for “people” in the franchise. When prehistoric monsters are running around, the last word anyone wants to start thinking about is one that refers to sovereignty. This movie could really end on a bleak note, with dinosaurs in control. That would set up a future trilogy, one akin to Planet of the Apes where the humans must fight for their own freedom and survival. It might sound unlikely, until you remember the warnings from the original film. This title almost feels like a promise to reach the story’s inevitable end.

“Life will not be contained. Life breaks free. It expands to new territories, crashes through barriers, painfully, maybe even dangerously.”

“God creates dinosaurs. God destroys dinosaurs. God creates man. Man destroys God. Man creates dinosaurs.”
“Dinosaurs eat man. Woman inherits the earth.”

And of course there was Dr. Ian Malcolm’s dire words from Jurassic Park, which he repeated in Fallen Kingdom.

“These creatures were here before us. And if we’re not careful, they’re gonna be here after. We’re gonna have to adjust to new threat that we can’t imagine. We’ve entered a new era. Welcome to Jurassic World.”

And we’ve known for 30 years who truly has dominion in Jurassic World.

Jurassic World: Dominion comes to theaters on June 11, 2021.

Featured Image: Universal Pictures

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When Jurassic Park first hit theaters in 1993, all anyone could talk about were those pesky raptors and that grumpy T-Rex. But a quarter century after Steven Spielberg’s film changed the game for blockbuster movies, it feels like the most iconic image to grab a hold of the public’s consciousness is a shirtless and wounded Jeff Goldblum as Dr. Ian Malcolm. It spawned many a hilarious meme these past few years, and catapulted the “chaos theory” expert to a sex symbol status. A status he arguably didn’t actually have when the movie was first released in theaters.

Universal Pictures

Now, thanks to the good folks at Sideshow Toys, a highly detailed collectible statue of Dr. Malcolm in his sexy and wounded repose will soon be available for fans to display and show off in their own homes. The statue of the one and only Jeff Goldblum is one of the most detailed and impressive pieces we’ve seen. It includes the specks of blood on his chest and on his hand, and of course his shirt comes all unbuttoned and sexy like. And yes, the splint on his leg is right where it should be too. Sideshow didn’t overlook anything for this one.

Sideshow Toys

This amazing 1:4 scale Dr. Ian Malcolm statue also features a scene-specific circular base with a cutaway revealing a series of dinosaur fossils buried underneath. This base makes it the perfect companion to the 1:4 scale Dr. Alan Grant statue which also came from Sideshow recently, and has a similar base made from dinosaur bones. This will be the world’s first officially licensed, limited edition 1:4 scale statue based on this iconic Jurassic Park character. Made out of polyresin, the statue stands at a height of11.25″ (285.75 mm), and comes at a width of 18″ (457.2 mm) and a depth of 10.7″ (271.78 mm).

Sideshow Toys

Jeff Goldblum is the snarky heart and soul of the Jurassic franchise, as his character of Ian Malcolm has continued to reoccur in the series over the past 25 years. He returned in a leading role for The Lost World: Jurassic Park, along with his daughter who could use her gymnastic skills against dinosaurs (it’s a thing).  He also came back for an extended cameo appearance in last year’s Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Next year, he’ll reprise the role of Dr. Malcolm once again. Only this time, he will  reunite with his original co-stars Laura Dern and Sam Neill for the third installment of the Jurassic World films. You just can’t keep a good snarky mathematician down it seems. “Life finds a way,” and so does Jeff Goldblum.

This collector’s statue is now available for pre-order at the Sideshow Toys website. It’ll set you back some $599, but no true devotee of Mr. Goldblum is going to want to miss out on having this bad boy on display in their home or office. The statue is expected to ship between April and June of 2020.  You can see more images of the new statue down below.

Images: Sideshow Toys / Universal Pictures

Sideshow Toys

Sideshow Toys

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“These creatures were here before us. And if we’re not careful, they’re gonna be here after. We’re gonna have to adjust to new threat that we can’t imagine. We’ve entered a new era. Welcome to Jurassic World.”
–Dr. Ian Malcom

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom ended with the dinosaurs breaking free of their cages and entering the domain of people. The last images of the film hinted at the horror that will be unleashed in the trilogy’s third and final film. Now, we know just how terrifying that will be, thanks to the first ever live-action short in the franchise, “Battle of Big Rock.” It’s an intense entry in the story, and a haunting prologue for the carnage we can expect from Jurassic World 3.

Directed by Jurassic World‘s Colin Trevorrow, who co-wrote the short film with Emily Carmichael, “Battle of Big Rock” can stand entirely on its own. It stars André Holland and Natalie Martinez as parents whose campsite is overrun by an awesome dinosaur fight. The “fun” doesn’t last long though, as their camper is then attacked by a T.Rex, in a classic scene from the franchise. It also seems to be inspired by Jurassic Park: The Lost World, which is fitting as that was the only other movie in the series that showed what happens when a dino makes its way into the real world.

The short also gave us this amazing shot.

Universal Pictures

This Jurassic World short works as a perfect prologue for Jurassic World 3, which Trevorrow returned to direct. Set one year after the end of Fallen Kingdom, it shows the dinosaur threat is well known by everyone, as the family is not surprised to see the animals — only that they have migrated as far as they have. A reference to what happened “up north” reveals attacks are not unheard of, either. (Seems like all the more reason to train your eight-year-old to use a crossbow.) If that wasn’t enough to inform us of the state of the Jurassic Park universe going into the next film, the end credits make clear just how destructive and deadly dinosaurs have become, thanks to “home footage” of people encountering the animals during their everyday life.

“Battle of Big Rock” features a T.Rex trying to eat an infant…but if this is a harbinger of things to come in the next movie, by the end of Jurassic World 3 that might not even seem that bad.

Featured Image: Universal Pictures

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In addition to the main aspects of the ride, Universal further fleshed out the attraction with in-world videos featuring its film protagonists. We get to see behind-the-scenes footage of Bryce Dallas Howard, Chris Pratt, and BD Wong explaining the park in character. Even in these brief clips, we can see how these in-ride videos transport park goers into Jurassic World. 

Image Credit: Universal Studios Hollywood

Perhaps most remarkable, though, is how the team at Universal went about updating the ride. Certain elements—like the emergency escape from the park—are still there, but new elements have been added. Most impressive is the creation of the Mosasaurus’ aquarium. Over a 100-feet-long and filled with real water, the aquarium is both a technical and storytelling marvel. When the Mosasaurus glides through and splashes riders with water, it’s hard not to believe you’re truly in Jurassic World. 

In the end, Spielberg sums up what makes the Jurassic World ride and area so great: dinosaurs are alive there. Both the attraction and dinosaur experience areas allow people to really see what it was like to walk amongst dinosaurs. Like the movies, the Jurassic World theme park experience is a place where dinosaurs can be brought back to life. 

Image Header Credit: Universal Studios Hollywood

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The pinball machine company will add Jurassic Park to its repertoire of pop-culture themed games, including Star Wars, Ghostbusters, Game of Thrones, and more. The Jurassic Park pinball machine will have three stylings—Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition—for fanatics to choose from. Each pinball model will thrust gamers into Isla Nubar, tasked with rescuing trapped park staff and avoiding ferocious dinosaurs. 

We especially appreciate the little details within each pinball model that harken back to the film. For starters, all three stylings feature the iconic Jurassic Park truck, as well as hand-painted artwork of the mighty dinosaurs. With a map of Isla Nubar and a laughing Dennis Nedry, these pinball machines really evoke the tone of the film.

Pro Model

Premium Model

Limited Edition model

The Playfield

The Ferocious T-Rex

The Terrifying Raptor and its Raptor Pen

The Premium and Limited Edition models only build upon the references to Spielberg’s classic. Both models include a T-Rex head that moves—and can even eat—your pinball! A dreadful raptor pen and loose raptors are also ready to block your ball from big winnings in these editions. We also appreciate the bumpers made of amber with, of course, mosquitoes trapped inside.

A formidable T-Rex lashes out at the Jurassic Park truck on the Limited Edition cabinet, featuring green accent colors. The Premium cabinet features a terrifying raptor screaming at you with a predominantly black color scheme. Finally, the Pro cabinet features a spitting dilophosaurus and T-Rex with black accent colors. Regardless of the model, these pinball machines are still a scary fun adventure for those who dare enter the park. 

If you’re itching to visit Jurassic Park, you can get one of these machines from Stern Pinball distributors and other dealers. A Pro model with cost you $5,999, while Premium and Limited Edition models with cost you $7,999 and $8,999, respectively. 

Images: Stern Pinball

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"Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn't stop to think if they should." - Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum)

Jurassic Park LEGO Set

"Dinosaurs eat man. Woman inherits the earth." - Dr. Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern)

Jurassic Park LEGO Set

"Hammond, after careful consideration, I've decided, not to endorse your park." - Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill)

Jurassic Park LEGO Set

"Hold onto your butts!!" - Ray Arnold (Samuel L. Jackson)

Jurassic Park LEGO Set

"Uh uh uh! You didn't say the magic word!" - Dennis Nedry (Wayne Knight)

Jurassic Park LEGO Set

"Dr. Grant, my dear Dr. Sattler, welcome... to Jurassic Park." - Richard Hammond (Sir Richard Attenborough)

Jurassic Park LEGO Set

*Jurassic Park theme*

Jurassic Park LEGO Set

"Life will not be contained."

Jurassic Park LEGO Set

"You bred raptors!?"

Jurassic Park LEGO Set

“T-Rex doesn’t want to be fed, he wants to hunt.”

Jurassic Park LEGO Set

“Yes, but if the Pirates of the Caribbean breaks down, the pirates don’t eat the tourists.”

Jurassic Park LEGO Set

"Life, uh... finds a way."

Jurassic Park LEGO Set

"Look... We can discuss sexism in survival situations when I get back."

Jurassic Park LEGO Set

"Creation is an act of sheer will. Next time it'll be flawless."

Jurassic Park LEGO Set

"Ellie, this one was always my favorite when I was a kid. And now I've seen one, its the most beautiful thing I ever saw."

Jurassic Park LEGO Set

"I can't get Jurassic Park back online without Dennis Nedry."

Jurassic Park LEGO Set

RIP Donald Gennaro

Jurassic Park LEGO Set

"Clever girl..."

Jurassic Park LEGO Set

Let’s get into the meat and (dinosaur) bones of this set. The six figures included are Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill), Dr. Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum), Dennis Nedry (Wayne Knight), Ray Arnold (Samuel L. Jackson), and John Hammond (Sir Richard Attenborough). Besides being dressed in their classic wardrobe, each figure features two different face designs—one happy and one distressed. LEGO really went the extra step with these figures as accurate as possible, creating Ian in his bare-chested glory! The only way they could top this is if included his crazy cackle from the helicopter.

The Jurassic Park set also includes six scenes from the film for your mini-figures to reside in. Hammond eating ice cream, Ellie attempting a reboot, and Ian lounging seductively are just some of the set’s featured scenes. Photos from the film decorate the box, providing a handy reference for making your own Jurassic Park at home. When you don’t want to help your heroes escape death, you can prop them on a decorative stand. Once assembled, the figures stand in front of an information plaque that features the T. rex’s impressive stats.

Jurassic Park wouldn’t be Jurassic if it didn’t have dinosaurs, and LEGO’s T. rex is monstrous. Standing at 16” tall, the prehistoric predator features a movable head, poseable limbs, and snapping jaws. This figure is so large that it dwarfs the minifigures, which only seems fitting for the film’s villain. One thing for sure is: you won’t have to second-guess constructing this Jurassic Park.

The Jurassic Park LEGO set will be available in LEGO stores and the LEGO Shop online on July 1, 2019, and if you’re a LEGO VIP member, you’ll have early access to the set on June 19, 2019!

What would happen if Jurassic Park happened in 2019? 

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The Jurassic Park world is evolving. According to Variety, Dreamworks TV and Netflix are bringing an animated series set in the current Jurassic World timeline to the popular streaming service. The plot: Jurassic World is now a summer camp for kids. And people are actually sending their children there!

The trailer showcases the rad animation style with a velociraptor stalking its way through the Isla Nublar brush. The series, titled Jurassic World: Camp Cretacious, focuses on six teens who are chosen to take part in a new adventure camp which is situated on the infamous Isla Nublar. Of course, as is the way with literally any tourism on the island in the Jurassic Park franchise, things go horribly wrong. The dinosaurs escape and wreak havoc on the campers and their “once-in-a-lifetime” trip.

On a logistical level, we do wonder how the powers that be keep getting approved for public liability insurance for this dino-death-trip. The conflict here though doesn’t come from the clear public safety concerns but from the fact that the kids are trapped and “unable to reach the outside world,” so “they’ll need to go from strangers to friends to family if they’re going to survive.”

Aside from the fact that people probably shouldn’t be sending their children to Jurassic World at all after multiple huge disasters, this sounds pretty exciting, as it is always interesting to see a new take on a classic series like this. DreamWorks and Netflix have also already been doing the good work with shows like She-Ra and the Princesses of Power and Tales of Arcadia, so we’ve got faith that this will be an interesting addition to Jurassic World canon.

This was a pretty stealthy drop from DreamWorks, so there isn’t too much other news about the series right now. But keep checking back as we’ll be following this latest example of entertaining mass child endangerment very, very closely.

Images: Dreamworks, Netflix

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Jurassic Park entrepreneur John Hammond told the world he was bringing us the next big amusement park, what he gave the world was nothing short of FRAUD! It’s everything you loved about the Fyre Festival scandal mashed up with DINOSAURS in this Nerdist Remix!

Edited by Matt Caron
Graphics by Charles Shattuck and Steven Gong
Titles and Thumbnails by Steven Gong

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This year Jurassic Park turned 25, but it still looks as good today as it did when it first roared into theaters. And yet, despite it being one of the most beloved movies of all time, full of countless iconic moments, fans have never been able to bring home officially licensed stills from the film. Until now, that is, because for the first time ever, gallery-quality fine art prints of the film can be yours.

Classic Stills, whose gorgeous Game of Thrones prints we’ve told you about previously, has teamed up with Universal Brand Development for a series of limited edition images from the 1993 blockbuster. “Printed on archival-quality photo paper,” each photo is “framed meticulously by hand” and comes with “acid-free matting and hinging, and is protected by UV acrylic to prevent fading.” Every picture is also individually numbered and comes with a unique Certificate of Authenticity.

The eleven different scenes available include: Dr. Grant drawing the T-rex’s attention with a flare, Dr. Ian Malcolm warning about the dangers of the park, Lex grabbing a flashlight, and numerous shots of dinosaurs. Fans can order them in three different sizes–11″x 14″ ($149), 16″x 20″ ($295), and 24″x 30″ ($495)–and they are available for purchase in the US, Canada, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy. You can see the rest of the collection below.

It’s amazing this is the first time gallery quality images have been sold for such an iconic movie full so many memorable moments, but after 25 years at least we know they’ll always look good.

Which one of these stills would you most want to hang in your home? Tell us in the comments section below.

Images: Classic Stills/Universal Brand Development

Image: Classic Stills/Universal Brand Development

Image: Classic Stills/Universal Brand Development

Image: Classic Stills/Universal Brand Development

Image: Classic Stills/Universal Brand Development

Image: Classic Stills/Universal Brand Development

Image: Classic Stills/Universal Brand Development

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In 1993, director Steven Spielberg‘s Jurassic Park brought Michael Crichton’s landmark novel to life with its groundbreaking depiction of CGI and animatronic dinosaurs that are still impressive over two decades later. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom was released earlier this year, and the franchise is more popular than ever. But in just a few weeks, the original Jurassic Park will return to movie theaters for three nights and give fans a chance to revisit the cinema classic on the big screen.

On Sunday, September 16, Fathom Events will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Jurassic Park by bringing the film to 500 theaters across North America. And as a bonus feature, Fathom Events will also screen a 17-minute fan remake of the original movie that gave would-be filmmakers a chance to recreate memorable scenes on much smaller budgets. Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom director J. A. Bayona filmed an introduction that remake earlier this year, which you can watch here.

Encore presentations of Jurassic Park will be screened on Tuesday, September 18 and Wednesday, September 19. Tickets are now on sale at Fathom Events’ official site, and there are also listings for the participating theaters. It’s unclear if any of the actors or the creative team have filmed any new interviews with Fathom for this occasion, but it’s definitely something that we’re hoping to see.

Are you excited to see Jurassic Park head back into theaters? What’s your favorite part of the movie? Let us know in the comment section below!

Images: Universal Pictures/Amblin Entertainment

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Mondo Games is taking us back to the island just in time for Jurassic Park‘s 25th anniversary. We’re excited to exclusively announce their new tabletop game, Jurassic Park: The Chaos Gene. In the upcoming asymmetrical miniatures tabletop game, you’ll take control of a faction in the park and do whatever it takes to leave in one piece. And that includes the dinosaurs.

“In our approach to Jurassic Park: The Chaos Gene, we took many of our favorite elements of a traditional dungeon crawl style board game and spliced them with one of our favorite films of all time,” said Mondo Games Creative Director Luke Byers. “The goal was to create something truly unique and incredibly fun to play.”

You’ll choose one of four factions–InGen, park visitors, raptors, or T. Rex–in the 2-4 player game and then it’s eat or be eaten. Each faction has its own unique objectives that affect how you play the game. InGen wants to keep the park running and make sure their investment is safe, the park visitors invited by John Hammond are just trying to survive, raptors seek and destroy, and T. Rex is hungry for victory. (See what we did there?)

Mondo is no stranger to adapting beloved films into compelling board games; The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31 turned the terrifying movie into a suspenseful and comprehensive game. Jurassic Park: The Chaos Gene aims to do the same, with detailed miniatures of your favorite characters and gorgeous art by Matthew Woodson to make you feel like you’re actually on Isla Nublar. View more of the figures in the gallery below.

Jurassic Park: The Chaos Gene is planned for a fall release on Mondo’s website and on the shelves of your favorite local game store.

See the Game at San Diego Comic-Con!

Visit the Mondo booth (#425) at San Diego Comic-Con for your first in-person glimpse of the game box! Visitors can also nab a patch featuring one of the game’s four factions, while supplies last.

Which faction are you most excited to play? Tell us why in the comments.

Images: Mondo

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I’m no shaving cream historian, but I feel very confident in saying the single most famous facial foam ever was the Barbasol can Dodgson gave Dennis Nedry to steal dinosaur embryos in Jurassic Park.

It had everything! A false bottom you could unscrew, compartmentalized spaces for each (viable!) specimen with enough coolant to last 36 hours, and actual shaving cream you could also use as a pie topping. Plus it could pass Customs. Now, that very can is one you will soon be able to take home in the form of the first ever officially licensed replica prop.

Chronicle Collectibles announced through io9 it will be soon start selling their very own “100% screen accurate” version of the infamous can. Early prototype photos show just how many pieces the inside will contain, but for now the company is being coy about whether or not the complete package will actually operate like the can in the film does.

While it cost Dodgson’s company a whole lot to pay off Dennis Nedry, their can will retail for around $200, and Chronicle Collectibles is expected to begin accepting pre-orders later this summer. Unfortunately, unlike the can in Jurassic Park, this model won’t contain any actual coolant or shaving cream, since that would ruin the replica. It also won’t come with any dinosaur embryos, so your company won’t be able to catch up on 10 years of research in a single purchase.

What other classic movie prop would you love to take home next? Let us know in the comments below.

Images: Universal Pictures, Chronicle Collectibles

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Colin Trevorrow wants Laura Dern and Sam Neill to return for the next Jurassic World, but will he be able to convince them to come back to the dangerous world of dinosaurs? We discussed the possibility on today’s Nerdist News Talks Back, along with the latest trailer for Skyscraper, Black Panther‘s Oscar odds, and the future of It’s Always Sunny without Dennis.

Guest host Hector Navarro was joined today by Natural Selection‘s Dani Fernandez, producer Jason Nguyen, and video editor Adam Murray, and they jump started today’s show with The Rock’s death-defying leap in the latest trailer for Skyscraper. How hyped are we for this movie? What’s the most tedious thing we’d be excited to watch him do? And with Mission: Impossible – Fallout on the horizon, is this going to be the Summer of Stunts?

Marvel head honcho Kevin Feige has begun talking up Black Panther as a best picture contender, so do we think it can overcome the Academy’s superhero movie bias and actually snag a nomination? Wasn’t The Dark Knight‘s snub part of the reason the Academy expanded back to ten nominees? And what do we think is the best movie of 2018 so far?

Speaking of big blockbusters, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom topped the box office again last weekend. Colin Trevorrow said he has big plans for the next installment, including saying he wants Laura Dern and Sam Neill to return ala Jeff Goldblum. Do we want to see Doctors Sadler and Grant back? Is there any chance they will both be willing to play their characters again? And where do we rank Fallen Kingdom in the franchise?

Finally, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia‘s 13th season is going ahead without Dennis, as Glenn Howerton’s A.P. Bio got picked up for a second season. Can the show work without him, or is he too important to the gang? And what’s our all-time favorite episode?

Nerdist News Talks Back airs Monday to Thursday on our YouTube and Alpha channels at 11AM PT, but we’re taking Wednesday off this week to enjoy America’s birthday, fireworks, and arguing with our cousins about how we rank the Jurassic Park movies, and then we’ll end our week with an all-new episode of Nerdist News What the Friday at 1PM PT exclusively on Alpha.

What did you think of today’s show? Talk back to us about it in the comments below.

Images:Universal

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Which of the five Jurassic Park films in the franchise fits this description: A group (with at least one child) of mostly decent but shortsighted people are put in grave peril thanks to the amoral actions of greedy men? The answer is all of them. Every Jurassic movie has followed that same basic premise. Even Jurassic Park 3 (which you no doubt wiped from your brain) involves stolen velociraptor eggs. It’s a tired format that is now 25 years old, and is one that Fallen Kingdom relies on even while attempting to tell a different kind of story about animal rights.

In fairness, there are only so many ways to tell the same scary story other than making bigger and meaner monsters, which is why most horror franchises eventually end up as parodies of themselves. The third Jurassic World doesn’t have to fall into this trap, though, because it has an amazing opportunity to break free of the same old structure by turning its focus to its human villain instead. Especially because there is already a compelling, complex, and important big bad whose story deserves a powerful resolution: Dr. Henry Wu.

John Hammond’s legacy is always present in the Jurassic World films, but no living character connects the new trilogy to the original film like B.D. Wong’s Dr. Henry Wu. He was there at the very start, a brilliant scientist who created a miracle that became a nightmare. While he might not have been the most important character when we first met him, no other character has undergone as dramatic a transformation as his—one that mirrors the very horror of the park itself. He began as Jekyll and turned into Hyde, losing his soul as he was consumed by a dangerous god complex. Now there is no danger or risk to innocent life that can stop him from pushing further and further to create the perfect dinosaur to complete his life’s work.

He’s the Walter White of Jurassic Park, which is why he’s now the most interesting character in the franchise. We have a history with Wu; we have questions about how he got to this point, and we want to see where it leads him—especially after the end of Fallen Kingdom left all of humanity at risk of extinction.

Much like the heroes of the franchise, Dr. Wu has never learned the most important lesson of the first film: you can’t play god. You can’t control nature and bend it to your whim. “Life finds a way,” and when that life comes in the form of killer dinosaurs, they too find a way, often with the help of both good and evil people who fail to recognize their own folly. Dr. Wu’s greatest flaw is just as human as the characters we root for.

We know he’s important to future films, otherwise the last two movies wouldn’t have made the exact same point of whisking him away to safety at the last second with all of that genetic code. But the final arc of his story offers more potential to say something meaningful than anything the good guys can. We’ve seen Owen and Claire run away from a T. rex twice now, and they’ve learned a lot about themselves and their actions in the process. But what’s it like to be the person responsible for setting a velociraptor free on Main Street? At what point do you recognize your failures? How do you deal with the knowledge your life work is defined by evil?

Or is it possible that when faced with causing the end of mankind, he will descend into final madness? Will Dr. Henry Wu celebrate as his “children” break free and reign supreme? His story is interesting both because we haven’t truly explored it before and we don’t know where it is going. Either way though he has meaningful lessons to learn, which would give the next movie a seriousness Fallen Kingdom was clearly trying to capture.

The franchise has set up a compelling and complex figure who deserves an ending worthy of his important and meaningful role in the story, one who carried the emotional weight of everything that has happened from the very beginning, and who would let Jurassic World 3 tell a totally new type of Jurassic Park movie.

We’ve followed Jurassic Park‘s heroes for 25 years, it’s time to follow its greatest villain.

What do you think? Do you want to to see the story of Dr. Henry Wu? Tell us why in the comments below.

Images: Universal

The post JURASSIC WORLD 3 Should Focus on the Franchise’s Greatest Villain: Dr. Henry Wu appeared first on Nerdist.

Being chased by dinosaurs is no laughing matter, but trying to crack up your Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom co-star is. And that’s what Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard did when they sat down in a battle of self-control over some (pre)historically bad dinosaur dad jokes.

The Hook asked the two stars of the latest dino blockbuster to take part in their “No Laugh Challenge,” where they went back-and-forth with some very silly, very pun-ny jokes—the kind your dad is definitely going to be telling you all summer. However, even funnier than watching two big Hollywood stars deliver some of the dumbest lines ever is watching Howard have no idea why they are even jokes in the first place, leading her to botching the punchlines in the best ways possible.

Okay, some of those jokes genuinely made us laugh, but not as much as listening to Howard’s own wonderful laugh. These two are so delightful and charming it’s a shame they are always running for their lives in these movies instead of just getting to hang out. That’s why we demand they make Jurassic World 3 a comedy where these two get to be funny instead of terrified.

At this point doesn’t the franchise Owen us that much? Sorry, was it Claire that was our attempt at a bad dad joke? And could someone explain why to Bryce Dallas Howard for us?

What is the best dinosaur-related dad joke you have ever heard? Share it with us in the comments section below.

Featured Image: The Hook

More from Isla Nubar!

• Is the T. rex the secret hero of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom?
• Should scientists make a real world Jurassic Park?
• Laura Dern is the reason for Jurassic Park‘s longevity

The post Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard Try Not to Laugh at Horrible Dinosaur Dad Jokes appeared first on Nerdist.

Who is the true hero of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom? Is it Bryce Dallas Howard’s Claire Dearing, a onetime cog in Simon Masrani’s ill-advised corporate machine-turned-activist for once-extinct creatures on the verge of another untimely death? Is it Chris Pratt’s Owen Grady, a freewheeling animal behaviorist who trains velociraptors not to be weapons of war but healthy animals living their best lives? Is it Jeff Goldblum’s Dr. Ian Malcolm, who delivers the title line of the movie? Or is it the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex, whose deafening roar inspires terror in the hearts of all who hear it? While it might seem like a dinosaur as deadly as the T. rex is a heroic figure, the iconic creature may just surprise you with its turn in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.

[brightcove video_id=”5797758716001″ brightcove_account_id=”3653334524001″ brightcove_player_id=“rJs2ZD8x”]To find out, our reporter Markeia McCarty traveled to Hawaii to interview the cast and crew of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom about their thoughts on if the T. rex is, in fact, the unsung hero of the movie. What did Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jeff Goldblum, Justice Smith, Daniella Pineda, and director J.A. Bayona have to say? Well, watch the video above and find out.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom opens everywhere on June 22, 2018. Read our spoiler-free review!

Images: Universal

MORE PREHISTORIC FUN

• Read what the Internet thinks about Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
• Jurassic World Alive lets you capture dinos with your phone
• Celebrate 25 years of Jurassic Park with this new Hot Topic collection

Editor’s note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Entertainment

The post Is the T. Rex the Secret Hero of JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM? appeared first on Nerdist.

Is the world ready for the return of dinosaurs? When John Hammond envisioned a gigantic theme park where mankind could frolic with the dinosaurs on the lavish private island of Isla Nublar, he didn’t stop ask his scientists whether he should bring the dinosaurs back, but rather only if they could. Playing god with the DNA of long-extinct animals sounded good on paper, but it led to a series of the most ill-advised theme park openings of all time, countless casualties, and the abject shirtlessness of Jeff Goldblum. (There’s a silver lining to every cloud, after all.)

While the Jurassic Park series serves as a didactic case study in how mankind’s arrogance, avarice, and inability to comprehend the consequences of our actions, the real world is hurtling ever closer towards making the resurrection of long-extinct species a reality: A group of scientists are feverishly working to bring the wooly mammoth back to life; Barbra Streisand cloned her dead dog–twice; and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom science advisor Dr. Jack Horner says that the genetic science behind the fan-favorite films isn’t as far removed from reality as one might think. In other words, Jurassic Park could one day become a reality. The real question, though, as John Hammon forgot to ponder so long ago, is whether or not they should?[brightcove video_id=”5799453353001″ brightcove_account_id=”3653334524001″ brightcove_player_id=“rJs2ZD8x”]

To find out, our reporter Markeia McCarty traveled to Hawaii to interview the cast and crew of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom about their thoughts on if we should actually try to bring back the dinosaurs. What did Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jeff Goldblum, Justice Smith, Daniella Pineda, and director J.A. Bayona have to say? Well, watch the video above and find out.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom opens everywhere on June 22, 2018. Read our spoiler-free review!

Images: Universal

MORE PREHISTORIC FUN

• Read what the Internet thinks about Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
• Jurassic World Alive lets you capture dinos with your phone
• Celebrate 25 years of Jurassic Park with this new Hot Topic collection

Editor’s note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Entertainment

The post Should Scientists Make a Real-World JURASSIC PARK? appeared first on Nerdist.

Jurassic Park is a classic for many reasons: Timeless dinosaur effects, stellar performances, an iconic score, and of course, Jeff Goldblum. But an overlooked and supremely important aspect of Jurassic Park is its commitment to practical, fashionable eyewear. So in honor of Jurassic Park’s 25th anniversary, we’re counting down the best glasses in Jurassic Park.

Dennis Nedry

Dennis Nedry, aka Newman, is one of the most atrocious characters put to film, and his death by dilophosaur is totally justified. His glasses are also fitting to his personality: condescendingly hip, smug, and ominous.

The Jeep driver

These oversized aviators are truly aspirational. The sunglasses consume most of his face, but somehow also make him look cool and in charge. I want a pair of these. Also, I want that hat. Do you think I could get it from the same eBay store as Jake Johnson’s original JP tee?

Dodgson

Dodgson! Dodgson! We’ve got Dodgson’s (glasses) here! Dodsgon only has one scene in Jurassic Park, and his sunglasses alone make it memorable. The wayfarer shape and brown color render them extremely 90s, but you can’t deny what a stylish statement they make.

John Hammond

John Hammond is the literal grandfather of everything in the film: bringing dinosaurs back to life, creating a theme park for them, and grandpa to Tim and Lex. His glasses are appropriately grandpa: round and jovial.

Arnold

Samuel L. Jackson’s glasses in Jurassic Park enhance so much about Samuel L. Jackson’s performance in the film: frustrated, over it, judging everyone, and always the smartest one in the room. Headset + glasses + fully smoked cigarette = peak 90’s SLJ.

Ian Malcolm

These are really not the best glasses. Sorry, Goldblum lovers, but the frames are shaped weirdly, and the fact that they are tinted is dumb. I’m as disappointed as you are. Do better, Jeffy G.

Ellie Sattler, sunglasses

These round tortoiseshell babies are what every mom in the 90s had, mine included, and I love them with my whole heart.  Perfect for an action-packed, dino-filled adventure, these sunglasses look durable, too. Keeping her hiking boots in mind as well, Ellie is nothing if not practical.

Ellie Sattler, eyeglasses

I don’t wear glasses currently, but should the day ever come, I will want the roundest and biggest frames possible. How do they complement Laura Dern’s expressive face so well? Ellie Sattler’s eyeglasses are perfect.

Alan Grant

The sunnies that inspired the gif seen ‘round the world. Alan Grant’s gold rimmed, black aviators are timeless, classic, cool, smart, and rugged. It’s sad when you think about how most of Jurassic Park takes place at night, and we lose the visual of our heroes in amazing shades. Are there any sunglasses in Jurassic World?

Which are your favorite pair of specs in Jurassic Park? Should dinosaurs wear sunglasses? Let’s discuss!

Images: Universal 

MORE JURASSIC PARK!

• Read what the web thinks about Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
• Who would best help you survive in Jurassic Park?
• Why Laura Dern is responsible for Jurassic Park‘s longevity

The post Definitively Ranking the Best Glasses in JURASSIC PARK appeared first on Nerdist.

It’s been 25 years since the imposing wooden gates of Jurassic Park opened for the very first time, and the classic family film is still one of Spielberg’s greatest achievements. The groundbreaking special effects that brought the dinosaurs to life–created by a small team at Industrial Light & Magic–changed the way Hollywood worked forever, effectively freezing stop motion animation in its tracks. But as much as SFX changed the film landscape, Jurassic Park has outlasted so many of its peers and still holds its ground as one of the greatest blockbuster movies of all time for another reason: Laura Dern.

In celebrating Jurassic Park it’s easy to get lost in the fantastic visual effects, the record breaking takings, and the fact it was made by one of the most lauded directors of all time. But in the midst of all the set pieces, creature work, and dynamic action is an incredible collection of performances from a cast who elevated what could have been a regular blockbuster to character-driven, cinematic magic. And at the film’s heart is Laura Dern’s subtly radical portrayal of paleobotanist Ellie Sattler.

From the moment she walks on screen, Laura Dern’s Ellie galvanizes the film with charm and passion. When she storms into the trailer screaming blue murder at the millionaire who’s funding their dinosaur dig, you never once question that Ellie will do what it takes to protect her work, and yet she is never portrayed as barren or nagging in the way that so many “business women” archetypes usually are. A great juxtaposition and example of the more common version of this trope is Colin Trevorrow’s treatment of Claire Dearing and her assistant in 2015’s Jurassic World. Both the women are career-driven and are apparently uninterested in the idea of motherhood, even if it’s the temporary kind. Both are punished, with Dearing’s park terrorized and demolished by dinosaurs, and her assistant Zoe dies in what’s unquestionably the most brutal and prolonged death in the franchise’s history.

Dern’s characterization eschews those pitfalls: Ellie’s arc always focused on her knowledge base as a source of power, safety, and ultimately heroism. Whilst Sam Neill’s grizzled Alan Grant has an arc revolving around the film’s two children, Ellie is always pragmatically focused on saving those around her, whether it’s the Triceratops poisoned by the prehistoric plant life or Samuel L. Jackson’s Ray Arnold whilst he attempts to turn the electricity in the park back on.

Ellie is a worthy hero often overlooked when we talk about classic action hero roles, but it’s worth noting that fully realized female protagonists did exist in Hollywood movies in 1993 and prior. Decades earlier Pam Greer had redefined action heroes in a slew of incredible Blaxploitation movies, most notably Coffy and Foxy Brown. A decade and a half before Jurassic Park, the world had been blessed with Sigourney Weaver’s vital and genre shaking performance as Ellen Ripley in Alien. In the movement that followed we got heroes like Linda Hamilton’s Sarah Connor, as well as fantastic co-leads like Rachel Ticotin as Melina in Total Recall and Rae Dawn Chong in Commando. The rarity of Ellie Sattler, though, was her role in a family movie neither as a mother or even a caregiver, but simply as a capable and brilliant woman who ended up saving the day and likely the world.

Dern’s turn is also fantastically physical–revisit the scene where she sprints away from the group of raptors through the jungle of Isla Nublar. Yet, she managed to escape the sexualization of actresses we often see in action roles, despite an eye-roll-worthy quote from Spielberg in a ’93 Rolling Stone piece claiming she “drives all the guys out of their minds.” Ellie’s signature look is simply an appropriate outfit for someone on a work trip in South America. Though both Alan Grant and Ian Malcolm are clearly attracted to her, Dern is only ever in awe of one thing: the spectacle of dinosaurs brought back to life. The story avoids the classic love triangle or even love interest tropes, carving out a unique role which seems oddly radical in the face of perennially shoehorned heterosexual romances.

One of the best subversions in Jurassic Park comes as an injured Malcolm is laid up in the back of one of Jurassic Park’s iconic jeeps, only to be chased by a terrifying T. rex. In the front of the car are bounty hunter Robert Muldoon and Ellie Sattler. After Muldoon is killed by a group of marauding raptors, it’s up to Ellie to turn the park’s electricity back on and save the day and also Malcolm’s life. It’s a brilliant reversal of the knight in shining armor story, which sees Jeff Goldblum take on the role of the damsel in distress.

Dern even has a brief moment as mentor to the film’s other female lead, Ariana Richards’ Lex, a shy aspiring computer programmer, whom Ellie encourages to hack the park’s computer system to keep out the raptors. In this moment the film also passes the Bechdel test as the two characters have a conversation that doesn’t revolve around a man and advances the story in a meaningful way. From her first appearance to the film’s last moments, Dern’s turn as Ellie Sattler is the beating heart of Jurassic Park, the human core. She’s a young woman who is just doing her job when she is thrown into an unthinkable circumstance, and now has no other choice but to survive. Because of her enduring, singular strength Jurassic Park will always be a classic.

Images: Universal

The post Laura Dern is the Secret to JURASSIC PARK’s Longevity appeared first on Nerdist.

Over the last 25 years I’ve watched Jurassic Park roughly 25 dozen times, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned from repeated viewings it’s this: if I were on that island I would definitely be eaten by a dinosaur. But what if I had someone to help me survive? Which character from the film would be most likely to get me out of there alive? And who would guarantee I ended up as a giant dino dung pile?

To answer that very important question I’m breaking down their pros and cons based on two-and-a-half decades of intense study, to rank them from worst to best. (Note: We’re imagining them all in the same situation–stuck with me in the middle of the park–and not their circumstances in the movie.)

MR. D.N.A.

Pros: Lightweight, informative, fun
Cons: Not an actual person, absolutely no help whatsoever, might even be worse than being alone because it’s possible I’d have to carry around an oversized computer from 1993.
Verdict: Mr. D.N.A. means being D.O.A.

THE STUPID LAWYER (POSSIBLY NOT HIS REAL NAME)

Pros: Can rock a hat, would be able to sue a dinosaur in some sort of prehistoric court
Cons: All of them, especially being greedy, cowardly, shortsighted, naive, weak, stupid…
Verdict: All he has to offer is the hope that your last moments on this planet will be knowing him and his stupid face were also eaten by a dinosaur.

DENNIS NEDRY

Pros: Good with computers so he could help reboot the system, values good manners
Cons: Out of shape, conniving, bad sense of direction, struggles in bad weather, very loud
Verdict: Being polite counts for a lot, but not as much as being able to flee. You’d be better off without Dennis, which means you’re still dead.

LEX MURPHY

Pros: Young, healthy, rises to the occasion, good with both computers and their systems that should definitely be far harder to crack
Cons: Scared of dinosaurs, knows little about dinosaurs, hates dinosaurs
Verdict: Lex is underrated; she’s far braver than she first appears. The big problem is I’m no Dr. Alan Grant, and I’d likely sacrifice her to survive for the extra 90 seconds it would take for her to be eaten. Am I a terrible person? Without question, and having a dino-phobic kid with me would only highlight my worst tendencies.

JOHN HAMMOND

Pros: Genius, knows the park better than anyone else
Cons: He’s older and walks with a cane, stubborn, slow to recognize the gravity of the situation
Verdict: The goal is to get off the island alive, right? Well who would get me to the hidden tunnels and passageways of the park better than he would. The problem is getting to them. What if we can’t find a jeep fast enough? What if I have to carry him on my back? That’s easy–some lucky dinosaur gets two helpings of out-of-shape white guy for dinner.

TIM MURPHY

Pros: Young legs, knows everything about dinosaurs, isn’t afraid of them
Cons: Suuuuuuper annoying, doesn’t understand the concept of a countdown or “high voltage,”
Verdict: Tim would be a sneaky good option to make it out alive. His broad dino knowledge would be a huge help, he wouldn’t need a lot of food, it wouldn’t be too difficult to carry him when he got tired, and little kids always have a lot of energy. The problem is you shouldn’t be secretly rooting for your partner to get eaten so he’ll stop talking.

DR. HENRY WU

Pros: Knows the dinosaurs intimately, very smart
Cons: Huge nerd. “Oooh, look at me and my stupid lab coat. I use it to help raise dinosaur eggs, which is about as dangerous as making an omelette.”
Verdict: Just based on Jurassic Park we have no idea he’s evil, so all we can go on is the little we see of him at work here. I don’t know, I guess he’d be helpful, but when you’re trapped in an actual jungle of actual dinosaurs, do you want an actual geek who might not be able to climb over a pebble as your best hope of survival?

RAY ARNOLD

Pros: Looks to be in good shape, willing to venture into dangerous places to help others, computer savvy, coolest guy in the park
Cons: Forgets to say please, thinks it’s a good idea to travel alone, a computer nerd
Verdict: Bigger and stronger than Dr. Wu and less of a geek, but he’d probably be relying on me just as as I would be on him, which is NOT what I am looking for. At least he’d probably say something witty right before we got devoured by a T-Rex.

IAN MALCOLM

Pros: Brave, intelligent, tall, courageous, witty, damn sexy
Cons: Shortsighted, cynical (even if he is right about everything), relentlessly a pain-in-the-ass, impossible to carry if he gets hurt, too damn sexy
Verdict: Nobody was in better shape than Dr. Ian Malcolm, which earns him such a high ranking, since he is physically the best bet to navigate a jungle and outrun the man-eating creatures. But that’s the problem–who can focus on survival when you’re distracted by the world’s sexiest mathematician?

There are definitely worst people to be stuck in a dinosaur’s digestive system with, but I’d still like to avoid that entirely.

DR. ALAN GRANT

Pros: Leading dinosaur authority, smart, brave, naturally protective, in better shape than you’d think
Cons: Can’t operate a seat belt, can be kind of mean
Verdict: Maybe not the best choice as a dinner date, but there are few people you’d want by your side more if you are trying to outsmart a dinosaur. That handkerchief around his neck is a little distracting though.

DR. ELLIE SATTLER

Pros: Leading dinosaur authority, smart, brave, protective, waaaay more more likable than Dr. Grant, able to do Jurassic Park-our, can still move quickly even after being injured
Cons: Fondness for ice cream
Verdict: It’s no surprise Ellie Sattler survived, since she had almost everything you’d want from someone stuck on the island. And that’s exactly why she’s only in the second spot.

ROBERT MULDOON

Pros: Park expert, doesn’t trust the dinosaurs, courageous, can handle high-powered weapons
Cons: Overconfident, a poor man’s Crocodile Dundee vibe
Verdict: You know why Ellie survived the velociraptors? Cause this guy told her to run while he hunted that “clever girl” down. Sure, it got him eaten in what might have been the single worst death in the movie, but that’s exactly what I’m looking for!

I don’t care if anyone else survives, just me.

What do you think though? Who would help you make it out of the park alive? Tell us in the comments below who you’d pick as your Jurassic Park partner.

And be sure to check Alpha Book Club soon on Alpha for a discussion about Michael Crichton’s original Jurassic Park.

Images: Universal

The post Which JURASSIC PARK Character Would Best Help You Survive? appeared first on Nerdist.

Warning: This review contains minor spoilers for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

The original Jurassic Park turns 25 years old in a couple of days, which is a hefty cross for J.A. Bayona’s fifth entry in the franchise to bear. But the Spanish horror director handles the task of a new Jurassic movie with style, and even manages to add something new to the near 30 years of dinosaur canon.

Topping 2015’s Jurassic World wasn’t going to be hard, but with Fallen Kingdom, Bayona manages to craft something that almost feels new… at least once you get past the opening 30 minutes, which essentially rehash the plot of Jurassic Park: The Lost World with a volcano and a lot more explosions. Once the island erupts, however, Bayona really finds his footing, showcasing a knack for directing massive action that we’ve yet to really see from the filmmaker. But no one who saw his vastly underrated A Monster Calls will be surprised to discover that he manages to humanize the lumbering prehistoric monsters who are slowly coming to terms with their fiery fate.

The film’s central duo is given far more to work with in this entry. Bryce Dallas Howard’s Claire has an entirely different personality from the first movie, which, while a vast improvement, is never really explained by Trevorrow and Connolly’s script. Granted, she and Owen are still the least engaging characters in the film, so it’s handy that their supporting cast is excellent, with their young cast mates seeming like a fantastic choice to front the inevitable sequel. Justice Smith’s Franklin, Daniella Pineda’s Zia, and Isabella Sermon’s Maisy add a much needed freshness to the cast, almost giving the film a young adult feel, which is exciting and much closer to classic ’80s and ’90s family films than your average modern blockbuster franchise.

Bayona’s background in horror really shows. Once the action heads back to California and the estate of John Hammond’s excommunicated old partner (played by James Cromwell), Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom goes full gothic terror with a giant mansion, a child with a dark secret, and a dying old man. Rafe Spall’s villainous Mills works really well alongside Toby Jones’ mercenary business man Gunnar Eversol as the mustache twisting billionaires who can’t wait to exploit the creatures of Jurassic World. Bayona treats the huge Lockhart estate like it’s a spooky house haunted by the misdeeds of the men who built it… oh, and by dinosaurs, of course. Yup, the second and third acts of Jurassic World are essentially Insidious but with a genetically modified raptor hybrid, and it’s at times genuinely terrifying.

Bayona uses space magnificently, whether it’s the introductory shot of the colossal gate opening into the thought-to-be-abandoned Mosasaurus lagoon on Isla Nublar, or Maisy cramped into the tiny dumbwaiter pulling herself up through the eves of the house. What’s more, the director manages to imbue every moment with a palpable tension. Though he could go for easy jump scares, Bayona prefers to tease the reveal, with plenty of tricks of the light and glimpses of the horror to come. That also creates a far more realistic look for the special and visual effects provided by Industrial Light and Magic, leaps and bounds more living and breathing than the computer generated creatures that filled Colin Trevorrow’s vision in Jurassic World.

Ultimately, Fallen Kingdom commits to its hard sci-fi roots, making some bold choices that seem to fit far more in the world of a Michael Crichton book than a Hollywood franchise. For this reviewer, it worked. The film’s attempts at a message about the lives and rights of the creatures we create hit home in a way that the franchise has often missed out on. A third act reveal will be unlikely to surprise, but it’s a fun twist that is well built up by Bayona and crew, with one of our new recruits playing a refreshingly vital role in the survival of the core cast in the sprawling mansion.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom’s biggest achievement is what it promises us in its final moments. As Jeff Goldblum’s dulcet tones issue a terrifying warning, we get a glimpse at a brave new world. It’s one that many of us have wanted to see since we first read the notorious unmade script for Jurassic Park 4, or even since we saw the T. rex on the boat to the mainland in The Lost World. The Earth has been irrevocably changed by the men who dreamed of bringing these ancient creatures back to life, and as three pterodactyls fly across the sun echoing the final moments of the original movie, you can’t help but want to see more of this Jurassic World.

Rating: 3.5 burritos

Images: Universal

More prehistoric fun

• Read what the web thinks about Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
• Jurassic World Alive lets you capture dinos with your phone
• Celebrate 25 years of Jurassic Park with this new Hot Topic collection

The post JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM Is a Solid Summer Sci-Fi That Promises Something Bigger (Review) appeared first on Nerdist.

When the original Jurassic Park was released 25 years ago, it was a hit of unparalleled size. Its two subsequent follow up films, The Lost World: Jurassic Park and Jurassic Park III, never really lived up to the original film’s greatness or its box office success. When Jurassic World hit theaters in 2015, it rode a wave of nostalgia for Spielberg’s first film that led it to earning all the money. But much like the original film, can Jurassic World’s second chapter, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, live up to the perfect storm that greeted the first movie?

The review embargo has lifted, and it seems history is repeating itself, as the early word on director J.A. Bayona‘s film is mixed at best. Based on many reactions, the movie takes a turn into an almost haunted house style film; some critics loved that, but just as many seemed annoyed by the switch in tones.

Chris Nashawaty at Entertainment Weekly gave the film a B+, which isn’t too shabby, but said “The less you try to dissect it, the more you’ll enjoy it.”

“Bryce Dallas Howard, thankfully, gets more to do than the last go round (and in combat boots, no less!), Pratt busts out his signature Indiana Jones cocktail of can-do heroism and deadpan sarcasm, and Bayona and his screenwriters (Trevorrow and Derek Connolly) test the laws of incredulity with varying degrees of success. At least, until the final half hour when forehead-slapping hooey finally win out. Up until then, Fallen Kingdom is exactly the kind of escapist summer behemoth you want it to be.”

John DeFore at The Hollywood Reporter also to enjoyed the film for what it was, saying “Fallen Kingdom ends with an act that is just about impossible to believe outside the context of a fiction that, like DNA, is driven solely by the need to replicate itself.”

“This is said to be the second film in a trilogy. But Fallen Kingdom’s closing scenes seem intent on something far bigger, like a Planet of the Apes-style saga that has barely begun. You don’t remake reality in a film’s final frames without intending to milk things for as long as the public will keep buying tickets. If future installments are this rich and exciting, that’s probably going to be a while.”

The Village Voice’s Bilge Ebiri is less effusive, saying Fallen Kingdom is still better than the first Jurassic World, and yet still somehow not very good. 

“Don’t get too excited, though. Even that idea — dinosaurs in a mansion! — doesn’t get explored in any truly involving way. There are missed opportunities all over Fallen Kingdom. “

Matt Singer at ScreenCrush suggests all logic in this franchise has gone out the window, saying “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a character in any movie do something as dumb as several of the things the characters in this movie do — and I wrote a whole piece ranking the dumb characters in the first Jurassic World”

“Connolly and Trevorrow’s script can’t decide whether dinosaurs are beautiful creatures worth saving, or monsters who must be destroyed at all costs, and the result is a deeply confused movie about the wonder of nature — and also about what it looks like when an indoraptor bites the hand clean off a man’s arm.”

Digital Spy’s reviewer Matt Chapman seemed to dig the film’s turn from a typical mega summer blockbuster into something more akin to a slasher film. He also makes a comparison to another beloved sci-fi franchise, saying “At this point the Jurassic franchise also fully mimics the tropes of the Alien movies: genetics gone mad; corporate dark dealings; near unstoppable (but extremely photogenic) killer creatures. All that’s missing is an android with questionable ethics.”

“Over familiarity also means the expected horror uptick doesn’t pay off – particularly given the high number of last-minute reprieves. The initial joy of Fallen Kingdom’s action extravaganza is tempered by the smaller-scale feel of its second half, even as a strong ending suggests another evolution in this storyline. All of which balances out into a perfectly enjoyable franchise entry – just one that lacks the bite of previous outings.”

Over at Den of Geek, writer David Crow asks “How do you continue a profitable franchise when, for the story to progress, characters need to make stupid decisions?”

“The fifth Jurassic Park movie, a film that is aware that the nostalgia keg that gave plentifully to the last several entries in the franchise runs the risk of tapping out—so it preemptively scrapes the bottom of the barrel for narrative ideas that include exploding volcanoes and velociraptors rummaging around a haunted house like they’re Christopher Lee.”

Emma Stefansky of Uproxx is more positive, saying “there is a little bit of the wonder and joy that made the original so special embedded deep within Fallen Kingdom, which I credit to Bayona, whose primary drive, even in genre fare like this, has always been to sprinkle just enough emotion into the stories he tells.”  

“The dinosaurs in Fallen Kingdom do look much better than the ones in Jurassic World, though it still kills me that these movies have utterly sacrificed the slow menace of practical-effects creatures for ones that move fast but are completely made up of pixels. One thing I will say: Fallen Kingdom, unlike Jurassic World, really gets how much we love the dinosaurs that have become familiar to us over the years.”

And Owen Gleiberman of Variety “didn’t find any of this stuff especially fun.”

“At certain points you may find yourself ticking off the themes. Greed gone rampant among the globalized gilded class? Check. The sinister potential of genetic engineering? Check. The need to protect endangered species? Check. The privatizing of military action? Check. The eerie implications of cloning? Check. The danger of weaponized dinosaurs? Check.”

Sounds like a lot of the reaction to the first Jurassic sequel twenty years ago, although I would say somewhat better than that. Are you still interested in making a return trip to Isla Nublar? Let us know in the comments.

Images: Universal Pictures

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